Mykell Bates is a soccer coach and former player who has worked across elite youth development and the professional women’s game, inclusive of roles with Los Angeles FC Academy and Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

Bates began his coaching career in youth soccer with Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club (MVLA) in Northern California, where he coached in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) from 2014 to 2021, focusing on player development and preparing youth athletes for collegiate and professional pathways. He also served as an assistant coach with the men’s program at Santa Clara University from 2017 to 2021.

From 2022 to 2023, Bates joined the Los Angeles FC Academy, working with MLS NEXT youth players in one of Major League Soccer’s top development systems. In this role, he helped train elite prospects and contributed to the academy’s mission of preparing players for professional soccer and national team opportunities.

In 2023, Bates transitioned to the professional women’s game, joining Angel City FC as a Technical Assistant Coach. His role focuses on individual player development, technical training, and refining key skills such as finishing, crossing, and ball control through position-specific training sessions.

A former elite player himself, Bates competed at Santa Clara University, where he captained the team and earned All-Conference honors, and he represented the United States as captain of the U-17 Men’s National Team, playing in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Mykell is married to Margueritte Bates, the UT Austin Women’s Soccer Head Coach, whom they have a young 2 year old daughter, Akari.