California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Whitney Pitalo enters her second season as Head Coach of the Cal State Bakersfield women’s soccer program in 2026. She was appointed in February 2025, becoming the seventh head coach in program history.

In her first season at the helm, Pitalo led the Roadrunners to one of the most successful campaigns in the Division I era, setting multiple program records. CSUB recorded the fewest goals allowed in a season (19), achieved its most conference wins and points, and posted its best goal differential (+7). The team also matched the longest unbeaten streak in program history (5 matches), saw 12 different players record points, and placed six student-athletes on the All-Conference team. The season marked the program’s highest conference win total in 25 years and the most in the DI era.

Pitalo arrived at CSUB in the midst of a diverse and successful coaching career at multiple collegiate levels. 

In 2024, she served as First Assistant Coach at Boston College, helping guide the Eagles to a 12-5-2 record - the program’s strongest Atlantic Coast Conference finish since 2018. Prior to that, she was on staff at Gonzaga University during the Bulldogs’ historic 2023 campaign, which culminated in the program’s first West Coast Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The staff earned West Region Staff of the Year honors.

As Head Coach at Corban University in 2022, Pitalo led the program to an 11-4-3 record, establishing single-season school records for fewest goals allowed (12), fewest losses (4), and most shutouts (12).

Earlier in her career, she launched the women’s soccer program at Umpqua Community College, guiding the team to a third-place finish in the NWAC Southern Region and developing five NWAC All-Stars in the program’s inaugural season. At West Salem High School, she led her team to a state semifinal appearance and was named OSAA 6A Coach of the Year.

A former standout at the University of Southern California, Pitalo competed for the Trojans from 2012-2016. She earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2014 and appeared in 19 matches that season, starting the final 10 as USC returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

Pitalo earned her bachelor’s degree in NGOs and Social Change with a minor in Social Entrepreneurship from USC and later completed her MBA at Willamette University. She holds a U.S. Soccer B License and will be pursuing her A License.