Brandi Padilla

Biography

Bio entering 2026 season Brandi Padilla finished her 13th season at San Diego State, taking on the role of associate head coach after joining the Aztec coaching staff in August 2012. With Padilla serving on the SDSU staff, the Aztecs have garnered 77 conference all-academic honors and 35 all-conference selections. Under Padilla's leadership, the Aztecs opened up the 2025 campaign 4-0, which was their best record through four games since 2014. Facing four teams that were ranked or receiving votes in one of the toughest schedules in program history, San Diego State finished with a 5-11 record. In her role, Padilla works primarily with the SDSU attack and draw takers. Her work has proved vital to the team’s success, with the Aztecs posting consecutive winning seasons for the first time in program history in 2017 and 2018. Thanks in part to Padilla’s efforts, San Diego State won a school-record 11 games during the 2018 campaign, culminating in the Aztecs’ first ever MPSF championship with an 11-10 overtime thriller over UC Davis in the conference title game. In 2022, Padilla oversaw Deanna Balsama, who set school records for most points (73) and goals (62) in her first season on The Mesa and became the first Aztec to be named the IWLCA All-Region Team. Individually, Padilla was instrumental in the emergence of Harlowe Steele (38) and Jill Haight (37), who earned all-MPSF honors after becoming the first SDSU duo to score more than 35 goals apiece. In addition, the Aztecs landed fi