Oriol Gimeno named women's soccer head coach as Rams enter new athletic era

By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications

AUSTIN – As Huston-Tillotson University's athletic department begins a new era in a new conference, the women's soccer team will also have new leadership to guide the team forward.
 
HT's athletic leadership removed the interim tag from the title of Oriol Gimeno Hernandez, who has served as the head coach of the women's soccer team since the summer. Gimeno begins his fourth season at HT, having served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men's soccer team in 2022, and serving as the women's team's assistant coach during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
 
Gimeno was also the goalkeeping coach for both of HT's soccer teams over the last two seasons.
 
"I am honored to join Huston-Tillotson University as the next women's soccer coach," Gimeno said. It's great to be here at this special time as our institution celebrates 150 years and we shift our athletics program to the HBCU Athletic Conference."
 
A native of Barcelona, the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain, Gimeno came to the United States in 2017 to help start FC Barcelona's Barça Academy in Austin. The Spanish soccer giant has multiple academies in the U.S., and Gimeno was the Austin academy's Director for Goalkeeping from 2017 to 2021; he was then promoted to the Austin academy's Executive Director, serving in that position until 2024.
 
As a player, Gimeno was a top-flight goalkeeper in the Spanish football league system's youth divisions. His youth career included stints with Club de Futbol Damm and Club Esportiu Europa, two clubs in Barcelona with teams that compete in the División de Honor Juvenil de Fútbol, the highest level of youth soccer in Spain.
 
After injuries curtailed his playing career, Gimeno completed his collegiate education at the University of Barcelona. With an undergraduate degree in business and postgraduate studies in Wealth Management and Investment Processes, Gimeno worked in finance and investment for six years before returning to soccer and making the move to Austin.
 
Gimeno succeeds Dr. Carlos Cervantes as the head coach of HT's women's soccer program. Dr. Cervantes remains an integral part of the HT Community as the head of the university's Department of Kinesiology.
 
As the head coach of the Rams' women's soccer team, Gimeno will lead the team through its first season as a member institution of the NAIA's HBCU Athletic Conference in 2025. The HBCUAC's additions of HT and Paul Quinn College in time for the 2025-26 season gave the conference enough institutions with soccer programs to field men's and women's championships in the sport.
 
"I am excited and looking forward to providing an environment where this fantastic group of student-athletes can become the best they can be on and off the field," Gimeno said. "I will work to bring to the women's soccer program the excellence and reputation that our institution deserves."
 
Gimeno's wife Michelle is a native of Dallas, Texas. The couple married in 2021 and have two children.
 
"I am thrilled to welcome Coach Oriol to the HT family," HT Director of Athletics Thomas Henderson said. "His dedication and passion for the sport are evident, and I am confident that under his leadership, our team will achieve great success this season. It's an exciting time to be part of HT, and I look forward to working together to support our athletes."
 
The HT women's soccer team opens the 2025 season Thursday, Aug. 21, when the Rams visit Jarvis Christian. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

– HT –