The Melissa High School Girls Soccer Program is dedicated to providing a positive learning environment built on trust, integrity, and communication in order to prepare our players for future success, both on and off the field, so that they may reach their full potential as athletes and leaders through the sport.

• Head Coach Manuel Avila: mavila@melissaisd.org

• For schedule information, click Rankone or MaxPreps

• Players & parents, be sure to join SportsYou for all team information. Email your head coach for the code to join.

• Instagram: @mhs_ladysoccer

• Twitter: @melissahssoccer

Coach Avila has served as the girls varsity coach since the inception of the program in 2014, and also served as assistant to the boys program until 2021. During that time, the program has reached the playoffs 8 times, along with 5 appearances at the regional tournament, and one appearance at the state tournament. During this time, the program has 6 district titles, 8 Bi-district championships, 8 Area championships, and 1 Regional championship. He was named district coach of the year four times, Regional Coach of the Year twice, and Assistant Coach of the Year three times.

Coach Avila played soccer for MCPherson College in Kansas for three years, before returning home to Texas and graduating from Austin College in 2003 with his degree in Psychology. He started his career as a teacher and coach at Sherman High School in 2003, before moving to start a new program in Anna in 2007. For five years, Coach Avila grew the new Coyote soccer program before again departing to start the program in Melissa, but also changed to the girls program. At Melissa high school he has served as the head girls soccer coach, physics and advanced physics teacher, as well as the academic dean of the science department since joining team Melissa in 2013. During this time at Melissa, he has been awarded the Difference Maker award, as well as Teacher of the Year.

Coach Avila and his wife are proud parents of two children, their daughter is a 2023 graduate of Melissa high school, and their son will graduate in 2029. He will still wear the purple and gold to support his daughter’s college, but prefers the red and black of the Cardinals! He and his family enjoy watching their kids do what they love, and spending time with their animals.

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so they can be great at whatever they want to do” – Kobe Bryant