José da Silva has lifelong love for the beautiful game. Born and raised in Brazil, José’s journey took him from growing up playing soccer on the streets his hometown of Araçatuba to the halls of the University of Oregon, where he would eventually embarked in the world of coaching and education.
José’s passion for soccer began with a soccer ball at his feet from a very young age. It wasn’t long before he found himself playing for the youth team of his hometown’s professional soccer club. However, José’s story took an unexpected turn when he qualified for the national track team, where he excelled in the 100 meters, long jump (holding a former U-16 South American record), and triple jump.
After his track career, José briefly resumed his soccer career as a semi-professional player for the Cascade Surge, a team based in Salem, Oregon, competing in the USL Premier Development League.
José’s extensive coaching career is a testament to his dedication to the game. He served as a Camp Director and held head coaching positions at and Marist and Sheldon high schools. His involvement with soccer goes beyond high school, as he also made significant contributions to youth soccer through clubs like McKenzie United, South Valley FC, Oregon United Soccer Academy, and FC Willamette. His international coaching experience, which includes leading local club teams in Brazil, further demonstrates his commitment to developing soccer talent.
In recognition of his dedication to coaching José earned numerous credentials and awards over the years. He obtained the BRUSA Certification, specializing in the principles of Brazilian soccer. His coaching abilities was were recognized with a series of Coach of the Year awards, including the 2007 5A Southwest Conference, the 1999 3A NSCAA and the 1998 3A State of Oregon and District 5.
José is presently serving as the principal of Springfield High School, a position he has held for the past 11 years.
