Hideki Nakada - Women's Soccer Head Coach - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Hideki Nakada

Title:
Women's Soccer Head Coach
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Hideki Nakada is about to embark upon his fifth season at the helm of the Utah women's soccer program in 2025-26. He became the third head coach in program history on May 27, 2021.

In 2024, Nakada led the Utes to an 8-6-5 mark that included a 5-3-3 record in conference that represented Utah's best performance in league competition since 2018. The team also crafted a 6-2-3 ledger at home, their best at Ute Field since 2016. Utah's defense of its home field in 2024 included a stretch of six straight undefeated fixtures to end the year, the last four of which were shutouts. Nakada also saw three of his players, Taliana Kaufusi, Kelly Bullock and Bella Woods, earn all-conference accolades from the Big 12. Kaufusi and Bullock were both named to the All-Big 12 second team, while Woods earned all-freshman team recognition.

Nakada also led in the development of Katie O'Kane, who wrapped her collegiate career in 2024 after starting all 54 matches in her three seasons in Utah. O'Kane net 16 goals and six assists in her Utah career and became the first Ute to enter the professional ranks after the NWSL eliminated its draft when she signed with Racing Louisville FC in February 2025. After appearing in 13 matches, including eight starts, and impressing early in her rookie season, she signed an extension to keep her in Louisville through 2027.

In Nakada's third season, the Utes were one of the toughest road teams in the Pac-12. The Utes started the season by going undefeated in their first eight road fixtures, the longest such streak in program history. The team's final road mark of 4-2-5 was the program's best since they went 6-2-1 away from home in 2005. Utah's list of home success's included a 5-0 trouncing of Utah Valley, the team's highest single game goal total since 2017, as well an Oct. 26 defeat of No. 18 Arizona State.

On Jan. 12, 2023, Nakada saw one his prized pupils, midfielder Courtney Brown earned the chance to play professionally when she was taken in the fourth round of the NWSL Draft by the Washington Spirit. Brown became the first Ute selected in the NWSL Draft since 2016.

The Utes improved both their overall and Pac-12 win percentages in year two under Nakada's command compared to year one and they started the season by going undefeated in August, a stretch that included victories in each of Utah's first three home matches. The Utes started their Pac-12 schedule with a win as well, coming from behind to knock off Arizona, while also earning ties against No. 4 Alabama and No. 23 USC.

In his first match at the helm of Utah, Nakada earned his first career victory as a head coach with a 3-1 win over the Portland Pilots. Under Nakada’s guidance, the Utes earned ties with national runner-up and No. 22 BYU and No. 3 UCLA. Nakada led the Utes to an increased win total from the previous year.

In his seven years on The Farm, Nakada helped guide the Cardinal to two National Championships (2017, 2019) and five-consecutive Pac-12 Championships (2015-19). During his seven seasons, Stanford compiled a remarkable 132-15-10 overall record with a dominating 66-6-4 mark in the Conference of Champions with four College Cup appearances. He also spent the previous three seasons as the associate head coach after being elevated on Feb. 23, 2018.

The Cardinal won their third national title in 2019 thanks to their goalkeeper Katie Meyer, who saved two penalty kicks in the title-deciding shootout against No. 2 North Carolina. Stanford also set a school record that year with 102 goals while finishing with a 24-1-0 record.

During Stanford’s second national title run, Stanford allowed just eight goals. The 2017 squad also outscored opponents 91-8 while the Cardinal trailed a total of 8:59 minutes that season.

As a recruiting Coordinator, Nakada was heavily involved in bringing in the No. 1 recruiting class four times during his time. He coached eight players who earned caps with U.S. Women’s National team - Andi Sullivan, Catarina Macario, Sophia Smith, Tierna Davidson, Jane Campbell, Jordan DiBiasi,Alana Cook and Tegan McGrady.

While on staff, Nakada helped Stanford earn NSCAA Pacific Region Staff of the Year in 2016 and was named the 2015 NSCAA Pacific Region Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Cardinal to a 19-2-2 overall record.

Prior to his time on The Farm, Nakada spent the 2013 season at Oregon as an assistant – serving as the team’s defensive coach and recruiting coordinator.

Nakada started his collegiate career at Idaho State (2006-08), where he spent three seasons and led the Bengals to the 2006 Big Sky regular-season and tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearance.

He then went on to Marquette for four seasons (2009-12) and helped guide the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament each year he was there. In his final year, the Golden Eagles tallied 19 wins – including a school-record 17 shutouts – to claim its fourth-consecutive BIG EAST American Division Championship and first-ever BIG EAST Tournament Championship.

His experience extends outside of the college coaching ranks as well. Nakada has been a member of the Region II & IV ODP coaching staff since 2010. Beginning in 2012, Nakada was named to the U.S. Club Soccer id2 National Camp coaching staff. He also joined the goalkeeping coaching staff at Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Player Development Program in 2012.