Academy Leadership
Tyson Wahl - Academy Director
Tyson Wahl joined LA Galaxy in 2023 as the Manager of Domestic Scouting. In July 2024, Wahl was promoted to Academy Director. In this role he will lead the Academy and support all staff members to achieve the Club's youth development objectives.
Wahl is a Southern-California native who grew up playing youth soccer in the local environment. After an All-American college career at Cal Berkeley, he went on to play in MLS for 11 years. After his playing career, Wahl gained valuable experience coaching youth soccer and college soccer in both California and Austin, Texas. Most recently, Wahl led the launch of Austin FC Academy as the Academy General Manager. In Austin, he built a strong team of collaborative coaches, managed the Academy budget and competition schedule, helped launch an extensive scouting system, Homestay Program, on-site schooling, and University partnerships.
Wahl holds a USSF A License, degree from Cal Berkeley in Sociology, and attained an MBA in Sports Administration in the Spring of 2024. He lives in Newport Beach with his wife Alli who has supported his wonderful soccer journey for many years.
Mike Muñoz – Director of Methodology and Development, U-16 Head Coach
Before joining the Galaxy, Muñoz, spent two years as head coach of Toronto FC II (2020-21), where he guided the club to a 10-10-8 record during the 2021 USL League One regular season. Prior to joining Toronto FC II, Muñoz spent six seasons (2013-19) as part of the LA Galaxy organization, coaching the Galaxy U-14s, U-16s, U-18s and LA Galaxy II, in addition to serving as the LA Galaxy Academy Director. Notably, Muñoz was head coach of the LA Galaxy U-16 side that won the 2013-2014 USSDA National Championship and helped in the creation of the LA Galaxy Academy School Program.
In 2010, Muñoz worked with Vanney on the creation of the Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy, where Muñoz began his head coaching career for the U-16 Real Salt Lake-AZ. That season, he was named the U.S. Development Academy U-16 Coach of the Year after guiding RSL-AZ to a 16-8-4 overall record.
Prior to his coaching career, Muñoz played professionally with Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy. He was selected by Chivas in the third round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. Muñoz played two seasons for Chivas USA, making his professional debut on Aug.13, 2005, against D.C. United. Muñoz joined the LA Galaxy after spending the 2007 season with USL-1 team California Victory. He made his first-team debut with the Galaxy on Sept. 6, 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute against Real Salt Lake.
A native of Bellflower, Calif., Muñoz graduated from Los Alamitos High School before earning a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned All-Pac-10 Second Team honors as a freshman and All-Pac-10 First Team honors during both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Academy Technical Staff
Jean Pierre Mujica - LA Galaxy Academy U-18 Head Coach
With more than 16 years of coaching experience, Coach Jean Pierre (JP) Mujica brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and player-development expertise to the academy. He joined the academy in 2022 and has played an important role in developing players both on and off the field.
During his time with the academy, Coach JP has helped develop players who have progressed to the First and Second Teams, while also contributing to teams that have achieved success at the national level, including multiple National Championships. His commitment to player development, high standards, and creating a competitive environment has made him an important part of the academy’s success.Â
Prior to joining the academy, Coach JP served as an Assistant Coach at City College of San Francisco, where he was part of a successful program that won the Conference Championship and advanced to the Final Four in 2018. Coach JP has also coached at a club level where he was a Director and coach at the San Francisco Glens.
JP holds his USSF A Youth license, USSF Director of Coaching license, USC Premier Diploma, MBP School of Coaches Expert in Youth Methodology Certificate and Masters in High Performance, and UEFA B license. During his playing career, JP played at the academy level for Sporting Cristal in Lima Peru, making his way up to preseason training with the first team. He then played 2 years professionally for other teams before moving to the United States.
Alejandro Olivares - LA Galaxy Academy U-15 Head Coach
Ale worked as a Middle School and High School teacher in Austin, Texas for 13 years, eventually coaching both soccer and football at the high school varsity level. In 2014 he started working for a local soccer club, eventually becoming Technical Director before moving to FC Westlake in 2018 to coach and be the Curriculum Director.
In 2020 Ale started working for the Austin FC Academy and spent four years working with the U12, U13 and U15 age groups. In 2023, Ale’s Austin FC U15 team won the Generation Adidas Cup becoming the 3rd American Club to do so since the tournament changed format to include international teams in 2014. During this time he was fortunate enough to coach multiple Youth National Team Players for both the United States and Mexico. In addition to coaching the U15’s, he spent two years as Development Phase Coordinator as well as the Lead for both Curriculum and Analysis at the academy.
This past year Ale worked once again at FC Westlake as Director of Methodology as well as the Technical Director at St Stephen's Soccer Academy in Austin.
In his free time Ale enjoys hiking and spending time with his wife, daughter and two cats.
Jay Gomez - Preformation Phase Lead & LA Galaxy Academy U-14 Head Coach
Jay Gomez is the Preformation Phase Lead and U-14 Head Coach for the LA Galaxy Academy, bringing more than 20 years of coaching experience across the professional, collegiate, high school, youth, and MLS academy environments. A former collegiate player at Cal State Fullerton and the University of Washington, Jay was selected by the Seattle Sounders in the 2000 A-League Draft. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and has continued to pursue advanced education in leadership and player development through Cornell University Executive Education (Performance Leadership) and the MBP School High Performance Master's Program.
In addition to his coaching career, Jay is a senior commercial real estate investment professional with CBRE, the world's largest commercial real estate services firm. His executive business experience in strategic planning, leadership, negotiation, operations, and relationship management provides a unique perspective to building high-performing teams, developing organizational culture, and leading with accountability—principles that translate directly to elite player development and academy leadership.
Throughout his coaching career, Jay has developed elite youth players while building high-performance environments centered on technical excellence, tactical intelligence, character development, and a growth mindset. His experience spans collegiate soccer, championship-winning high school programs, elite youth clubs, and MLS academies, where he has helped guide players toward collegiate, professional, and international pathways. Licenses & Certifications: U.S. Soccer A License • United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma • TOVO Academy Barcelona T1 & T2 Certifications
Jonathan Hernandez - LA Galaxy Academy U-13 Head Coach
Jonathan Hernandez, born and raised in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, grew up playing club and college soccer before transitioning into coaching across both youth and collegiate levels. He joined the LA Galaxy Youth Department in 2020, earning a full-time role in 2022 where he specialized in player development with a focus on coaching methodology and curriculum design.
He played a key role in leading the Galaxy Discovery Program (GDP), a groundbreaking initiative that has helped numerous top local players earn academy contracts. A lifelong goal of his has been to contribute to the LA Galaxy Academy, and he is now honored to serve as head coach of the U-13 team for his childhood club.
Hernandez currently holds a U.S. Soccer Federation National B License.
Roberto Loera -Â Head of Academy GoalkeepingÂ
Roberto Loera is a goalkeeping coach with over 12 years of experience developing goalkeepers across youth, academy, and collegiate environments in the United States and Mexico. Now serving as the Head of Goalkeeping at the LA Galaxy Academy.
Loera’s coaching journey includes experience at both the NCAA Division II and Division I levels, working with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Loyola Marymount University before stepping into his current role with the Galaxy. Across every environment, he emphasizes strong technical foundations, tactical understanding, and the mental qualities required to succeed at the highest levels.
As a former player, Loera developed in Mexico with Club Santos, Club León, and U. de Curtidores before continuing his career in the United States with LA Galaxy. He brings that player perspective into his coaching, connecting with athletes through authenticity and experience. His background is supported by formal coaching education in the U.S. and Mexico, along with specialized training in goalkeeping development.
Jason Aguilera Peralta - LA Galaxy Academy Performance Coach
Jason is a performance/strength & conditioning coach from the Antelope Valley in California. Prior to joining LA Galaxy’s Academy, he worked with AV Alta FC’s Academy as their strength & conditioning coach, helping them win the 2026 UPSL SoCal Central Coast Division in their first competing season - which was also the first trophy won in the club’s history.Â
Having graduated from California State University, Northridge with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology - Exercise Science, Jason had the pleasure of interning at various sport performance facilities, where he fell in love with sport performance/strength & conditioning. These include Proactive Sport Performance as well as with CSUN's very own sport performance team during his last semester there, where he worked with a wide range of athletes & clientele at each respective internship.
Quickly after graduating in the summer of 2025, Jason applied everything he had learned & earned his CSCS through the NSCA. Jason has also worked at Allegiate located in Santa Monica & Monarch Athletic Club located in Brentwood, where he truly started to develop as a coach and found joy in helping others become the best and strongest versions of themselves.Â
He is proud to join the LA Galaxy & is focused on helping continue the academy's history of success in both player development & competing at the highest level.