Coach Novais brings more than 25 years of coaching experience at the regional, national, and collegiate levels to our program. Originally from Brazil, Ernando played collegiate soccer before building a distinguished career in coaching and player development in the United States. He first came to the U.S. as an international student at Arizona State University, making his return to ASU as Director of Coaching a full-circle moment. Throughout his career, he has worked with players across all age groups, with a strong emphasis on preparing elite athletes for collegiate competition and professional pathways.
Ernando has a proven track record of developing players who have gone on to compete at both the collegiate and professional levels. He previously served with Arizona’s Olympic Development Program (Region IV West) as a Head Coach and Goalkeeper Coach, working alongside respected leaders including the late Austin Daniels, a member of the Black Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame, as well as Andy Bonchonsky and Karla Thompson, whose mentorship played a significant role in his growth as a coach.
He holds a USSF C License, United Soccer Coaches Advanced Licenses, and NCAA National and Advanced Goalkeeping Licenses. In addition to his role with the club, Ernando coaches at RSL Arizona South. A trilingual professional, he also holds an MBA in International Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Joining the club in Spring 2026, Coach Novais guided the First Team to an undefeated (9-0-2) Southwest League 1 championship in his first season. As our Director of Coaching, he now oversees the club’s competitive vision, developing our program while fostering a culture that empowers players to become leaders both on and off the field.
