DREW REA

Drew Rea (pronounced RAY) joined the University of La Verne as the Men's Soccer Head Coach in March of 2025. With two decades of collegiate coaching experience, Rea brings a deep knowledge of the game and strong ties to the Southern California soccer community.

Rea joins the Leopards after a successful tenure as the head coach at Norco College, where he led the Mustangs to two Inland Empire Athletic Conference titles, five playoff appearances, and a remarkable rise from 130th to a top-five ranking in the state during his six-year leadership.

Before Norco, Rea spent 11 years at Cal State Dominguez Hills, assisting both the men's and women's soccer teams. During his time with the Toros, he contributed to a 2008 NCAA Division II Men's National Championship, a 2009 NCAA Division II Women's National Runner-Up finish, and six California Collegiate Athletic Association titles, along with 11 total playoff berths. He also served as the Assistant Head Coach at UC Riverside, where he helped guide the Highlanders to a Big West Championship.

Beyond the collegiate level, Rea has been the Director of Soccer for Legends FC since 2016, overseeing the Boys Elite Club National League program and serving as a college advisor. Under his leadership, the program climbed from 89th to a top-five ranking nationally in under three years.

Originally from Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, Rea moved to the United States with his family in the 1980s. A standout player, he won a CIF title at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino before continuing his career at Western Michigan University and later Cal State Bakersfield, where he earned All-American honors twice. After college, he played professionally for Glentoran in Ireland before transitioning into coaching.

Rea earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2016 and a Master’s in Sports Management from St. Thomas University in 2018.

Now leading the Leopards, Rea is committed to building a championship-caliber program at La Verne. “Coaching here means more than just leading a team—it’s about creating a lasting legacy of excellence, passion, and dedication,” he says.

Rea and his wife, Faith, a board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and Director at Casa Colina, reside in La Verne with their children, Braydon and Emma.