Coaches
Coach Holiday began his wrestling journey at Calvary Chapel High School (1991-95), where he became a 2-time California State Champion and a 2-time USA Wrestling All-American and National Finalist. He was a key part of the 1993 and 1994 California CIF State Championship Teams. At the University of Minnesota (1995-2000), he started all four years, contributing to both the Big 10 Team title and the NCAA Division 1 Team title. Coach Holiday's competitive career took him across the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Greece.
From 2003 to 2011, he served as the head coach at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa High School, coaching 33 CIF champions, 26 state placers, and 8 state champions. Currently, he is the head wrestling coach at Kings MMA, training multiple UFC title contenders, and an assistant coach at Esperanza High School. As the founder and director of Rough House Wrestling, he has developed one of California’s premier wrestling clubs, producing multiple state champions and national team titles. His experience and dedication to wrestling span over 40 years, and he is committed to working with USI to develop elite wrestlers and shape future leaders.
Igor Puglia is a seasoned soccer coach with a rich background in both playing and coaching at various levels of the game. Born and raised in Brazil, Igor's passion for soccer ignited at a young age, where he mastered his skills in the vibrant football culture of his homeland, playing the many variants of the games such as futsal, indoor and even street soccer.
Igor’s journey in soccer began when he joined the professional academy of a prominent Brazilian club called Portuguesa de Desportos at the age of 15, from then on, Igor played for several other professional academies, such as Redbull Brasil and Clube Atletico Bragantino, where he also had the opportunity of being part of the professional squad. At the age of 20, driven by the desire to further his education, but also fulfill his dream of continuing to play soccer, Igor moved to the USA, where he played DII college soccer for Biola University and USL2 for the SoCal Eagles. After graduating with a degree in Business Management, Igor transitioned seamlessly into coaching, drawing upon his wealth of playing experience and his passion for the game. He began his coaching career by working with youth soccer, club and High School Varsity soccer at La Mirada HS in 2018. He has since coached for some of the biggest local clubs in SoCal. He is currently the Head Coach at AYSO United, as well as the assistant/goalkeeper coach at SoCal Eagles and was a part of the coaching staff at Soka University in 2023. His mission now as a coach is to use both his playing and coaching experience to help the new generations of soccer players in America.
Richard Pohle Jr., USI Baseball Coach
Rich Pohle's journey in baseball began at Buena Park High School, where he quickly emerged as a standout player, earning All-Star and All-League honors for three consecutive years. He continued to hone his skills at Cypress and Fullerton College before catching the attention of professional scouts. Signing with the Philadelphia Phillies after his second year of college, Rich embarked on a professional career that saw him also don the jersey of the Seattle Mariners and later play independent baseball with the Orange County Flyers. Transitioning from player to coach and trainer, he founded Rich Pohle's Baseball Development, dedicated to guiding players on their own baseball journeys. Currently serving as the head coach at Brea Olinda High School, Rich's passion for the game extends to scouting, where he serves as an associate scout for the Seattle Mariners organization, continuing to shape the future of baseball talent.
Marcus Jones, USI Baseball Coach
Marcus Jones is a former Major League Baseball player with the Oakland A’s and a 1993 graduate of Esperanza HS, where he led his team to the 1993 Division 1 CIF title. After earning First Team All-CIF, First Team All-State, and All-American nods he participated in the U.S.A Olympic Festival before continuing his career at Long Beach State. There he was the 1996 Big West Pitcher of the Year and an All-American. Marcus was drafted in the MLB Draft three times, once out of high school and twice in college. Ultimately, he signed as a 3rd round pick, 95th pick overall after being drafted by the Oakland Athletics. He spent 6 years with the A's, making his MLB Debut in 2000. After his career ended, he coached at Esperanza HS and ran a baseball training facility for 10 years. He has worked with hundreds of future NCAA athletes, NCAA athletes, MiLB and MLB players. He currently resides in Yorba Linda with his high school sweetheart, Heather, and their 12 year old son Jake. His daughter, Taylor, is a 2019 Division 2 CIF Champion in Volleyball and 2021 Esperanza graduate. She is currently a Biology major and All-American Volleyball Player at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
Introducing Our New Performance Partner: Ausletics
The Universal Sports Institute is proud to announce our partnership with Ausletics, a cutting-edge sports performance company dedicated to helping athletes reach their full potential. Ausletics brings a science-driven approach to strength, conditioning, and movement training—combining data analytics, biomechanics, and expert coaching to elevate every athlete’s performance.
Through this collaboration, USI student-athletes will benefit from customized training programs, real-time performance feedback, and recovery methods that align perfectly with our mission to blend academics, athletics, and wellness. Together, USI and Ausletics are redefining what it means to train smarter, recover better, and compete stronger.
