Loyola University Chicago Athletics

Ricardo Pinto rejoined the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer staff as an assistant coach in March 2025. Pinto returns to Rogers Park after previously serving in the same role at Loyola for two seasons (2019 and spring 2021). 

Pinto rejoins the Ramblers after spending last season coaching goalkeepers at Northeastern. In Boston, he helped the Huskies achieve their best defensive season since 2018, finishing with a team goals-against average of 1.06. Goalkeeper Colby Hegarty posted a 1.00 GAA, the sixth-best in program history, while ranking second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and 19th nationally with a .793 save percentage.

"We could not be more excited to welcome Ricardo back to Rogers Park," Head Coach Bode said. "Ricardo made a huge impact on our program—most importantly, with our student-athletes. I know he's grown a lot in the last five years, and I have no doubt he will once again make a great impact as he settles back in at Loyola."

Pinto is no stranger to the North Side of Chicago, having served on Northwestern's staff from 2021 to 2023. He helped the Wildcats secure three consecutive Big Ten Tournament appearances—reserved for the top nine teams—including a No. 4 seed in 2023. In 2022, he played a key role in goalkeeper Christian Garner leading the conference with 4.90 saves per game. In 2023, keeper Jackson Weyman recorded the third-most wins in the conference (eight). Pinto also helped secure back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes, which placed fifth in 2022 and sixth in 2023.

"I'm extremely grateful to return to Loyola University Chicago," Pinto said. "Some of my fondest memories came from being a part of this program. My goal is to assist this group of student-athletes in achieving the same success we shared years ago. Thank you to both Steve and Graham Brennan for entrusting me. They're both mentors and friends of mine, and I'm looking forward to working with them again. Go Ramblers!"

During his previous tenure at Loyola, Pinto helped guide the team to a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament title in 2019 and an NCAA Tournament berth. That same season, goalkeeper Marcel Kampman recorded 44 saves, a .688 save percentage, and earned All-MVC honorable mention and a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region team. Kampman also posted seven shutouts, tying for second in the MVC.

Before his time at Loyola, Pinto spent one season at UNC Wilmington, where he helped the team qualify for the 2018 NCAA Tournament with a 12-5-3 record. Under his guidance, the Seahawks ranked 18th nationally in goals-against average and 19th in team save percentage. He also coached goalkeeper Ryan Cretens to second-team All-CAA honors.

A 2016 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Pinto began his coaching career at Stetson in 2017. That season, he helped the Hatters secure a 7-7-2 record, an Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season title, and an unbeaten 4-0-2 conference record. He coached ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year Joseph Melong and Freshman of the Year Deniz Dogan.

Beyond the college ranks, Pinto worked with GPS Florida as the director of goalkeeping while serving as the head coach of the U-12 GPS Florida Select I team. Before Stetson, he was an assistant coach at Iowa Lakes Community College, where the team posted a 14-5-0 record and earned a No. 15 national ranking.

Originally from Beaverton, Oregon, Pinto is in the process of obtaining his U.S. Soccer Federation "B" coaching license in June 2025 and a earned a master's degree in sport management from the University of South Dakota in 2017.