Nearly a century after moving to Chico to take his first collegiate head coaching job, Felipe Restrepo has built a soccer program—and a whole lot more—to be proud of.
 
Restrepo's teams have been successful, claiming three NCAA Championship Tournament berths, three California Collegiate Athletic Association North Division titles, and a NCAA Championship Tournament West Region title.
 
His players have been active in the community, coaching youth teams and responding in times of need, like when they traveled to the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds to play with children displaced during the Oroville Spillway crisis in February.
 
His players have gone on to successful professional careers. Five of Restrepo's former players were signed to USL sides this season: Akwafei Ajeakwa (Colorado Springs), Octavio Guzman (Saint Louis), Matt Hurlow (Phoenix), Luis Martinez (OKC), and Jake Ward (Reno).
 
Restrepo's vision has been expansive. After receiving his doctorate in social organization and educational policy in 2014, he taught a three-unit undergraduate leadership course at Chico State last spring for first-generation college students. Three of his team captains—Matthew Tarr, Dylan Wakefield, and Carter Johnson—helped teach the class.
 
He also birthed and built Chico United FC, a local youth soccer club.
 
The 2008 CCAA Coach of the Year and 2013 West Region Coach of the Year, Restrepo has been a success on the pitch as well. With Thursday night's 2–0 victory against Stanislaus State at University Soccer Stadium, Restrepo earned his 100^th career victory. Today the Wildcats will try to get him win No. 101. They host San Francisco State at 4:30.