In the world of soccer, the path to success is often filled with dedication, hard work, and unexpected opportunities. Eduardo Jimenez, the Director of Operations for Stetson Men's Soccer, recently found himself on an exciting and fortuitous journey when he was recently called up to be an assistant coach for the Puerto Rico National Team within a few days of joining the staff.

Hired in September as the director of scouting for the Puerto Rican Federation, Jimenez's role is multifaceted. He is responsible for scouting top players not only for the senior teams, both men and women, but also for the youth teams. Puerto Rico's youth teams have been putting together solid performances lately, with the 14u girls recently winning the Caribbean championships in the Dominican Republic and the 17s showing promise by reaching the semifinals, where they lost to Mexico.

Jimenez's journey took an unexpected twist shortly after his appointment when he was asked to serve as an assistant coach for the men's National Team. This thrust him back into the world of the CONCACAF Nations League, a tournament divided into groups A, B, and C. Puerto Rico is currently in Group B, facing opponents like Bahamas, Antigua, and Guyana. Jimenez explains that Puerto Rico's ultimate ambition is to qualify for Group A, competing with the likes of the USA, Canada, Mexico, and other prominent soccer nations.

Right now they're in a group of four and have played their first two games with four games remaining. Jimenez will go back this month to coach against Guyana in Guyana (10/14) then again in Puerto Rico (10/17) before retuning in November for the final two games against Bahamas and Antigua.

His role within the Puerto Rico National Team is diverse, ranging from player management to assisting coaches and running training sessions. Off the field, he is deeply involved in finding the right type of players for the team, seeking experienced professionals playing across the world. This dual role ensures that the team is well-prepared both on and off the field.

Jimenez's trek has been filled with moments of pride and gratitude. He reflects on his career progression, saying, "Really proud. I've been grinding for the past few years trying to advance my coaching career." He attributes a significant part of his success to Coach Emmett and his time at Stetson, where he started as a volunteer assistant coach and earned his B license from the US Soccer Federation. His plans include pursuing his A license next year.

His emotional connection to Puerto Rico runs deep, having played for the country from youth levels to the senior team. Coaching for his homeland is a cherished opportunity, and he speaks of it with immense gratitude.

"To now have an opportunity to coach for my country, it's something that I take to heart and I'm super grateful for the opportunity and really proud," said Jimenez.

Jimenez also draws comparisons between coaching at Stetson and with the Puerto Rico National Team. He acknowledges that both environments demand professionalism and emphasize the importance of players' mental and emotional well-being, in addition to their athletic abilities. However, he recognizes differences, such as Stetson players juggling academics with soccer, while most of the Puerto Rican players are already professionals.

Among his favorite memories, Jimenez fondly recalls his first game as an assistant coach, standing on the sideline during the national anthem, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.

"When I heard the national anthem, it was like a culmination of everything I've been working for," said Jimenez. "Being there on the sideline with my hand on my heart, it was very special and it was something I've never felt before, the sense of pride, the sense of accomplishment but also just this invigoration and motivation to keep grinding and keep pushing, it felt like I was right were I needed to be."

Jimenez believes that his experience with the Puerto Rico National Team will have a positive impact on Stetson's soccer program. He plans to incorporate the knowledge and tactics he has gained from the national team's head coach into his coaching at Stetson, enriching the program and furthering the development of young athletes.

His story serves as a reminder that in the world of sports and beyond, opportunities can arise when least expected, and with the right blend of hard work, skill, and unwavering dedication, those opportunities can turn into remarkable achievements.
 
 About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter . For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics For a recap of the week's notable stories, sign up for the Stetson Athletics Newsletter HERE