Splash’s Valenzuela Named Marina Girls’ Soccer Coach

Jorge Valenzuela, a Splash goalkeeper, has agreed to become coach of the Marina girls’ soccer team, he said Tuesday night.

Valenzuela, 30, runs a goalkeeper school and has organized camps for children 6 to high school age.

Valenzuela takes over a program that has not lost in 61 games and finished the 1995 season ranked No. 3 in the National Soccer Coaches of America poll.

“We wanted to make sure we got somebody who could deal with high school girls,” Marina Athletic Director Larry Doyle said. “There are a lot of good coaches out there, but it’s still a little different. You can know the game inside and out, but if you don’t know how to deal with kids, you’re going to run kids out of the program. We don’t need that.”

Valenzuela replaces Splash teammate Bobby Bruch, who left to pursue other professional opportunities.