Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Phone:
- 615-5141
Jhojan Obando is in his 11th year as an assistant coach, primarily working with the team's goalkeepers in the 2024 season. He also spent two years (2012-13) as volunteer assistant.
Obando has been instrumental in producing some of the program's best goalkeepers. In 2023 he helped Isaiah Goldson to Big Ten All-Freshman team honoree and a No. 22 ranking in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Midseason Freshmen Top 100. In 2021, he helped Hayden Evans to being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as he made 48 saves on the season, including a season-best eight saves at No. 8 Maryland. In 2019, he coached Andrew Verdi to Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year honors and a school record for lowest goals-against average (0.78, minimum 1,000 minutes). After Verdi went down with an injury late in the season, Obando quickly installed freshman Owen Finnerty between the pipes. Finnerty played every minute of the final seven matches, which included runs to the Big Ten Tournament final and the NCAA Sweet 16. Between the two of them, U-M had 11 shutouts in 2019, most in a single season in school history. Four of the five spots behind Verdi on the school's all-time list for lowest GAA were coached by Obando, including Henry Mashburn (0.81 in 2018), Verdi (1.02 in 2017) and Evan Louro (1.05 in 2015).
With Obando's goalkeepers in net, U-M has set, then tied, the school record for fewest goals allowed in a season, conceding 18 goals in both 2018 and 2019. Four of the top seven defenses in program history -- as judged by goals-against average -- have come in the last five years under Obando's watch (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019). He's mentored 2012 All-Big Ten second-team honoree Adam Grinwis (formerly of Orlando City SC) and fellow program alum Evan Louro (formerly of the New York Red Bulls).
A native of Colombia, Obando possesses a USSF National C License, as well as an NSCAA Level III goalkeeping certificate. He played in 44 career matches (42 starts) as a goalkeeper at Providence under the guidance of Chaka Daley as a student-athlete, helping the Friars to a 24-14-4 record and recording 13 shutouts. In 2010, Obando helped the Friars to the championship game of the Big East Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Additionally, he was part of three Providence teams that made the NCAA Tournament. During the last two seasons, the Friars hosted an NCAA Tournament first-round match for the first times in school history, and advanced to the second round on each occasion. He was one of four goalkeepers invited to the 2012 adidas MLS Player Combine and most recently played for the Des Moines Menace in the Premier Development League.
Obando is married to Lynn Kriengkrairut and has one son, Enzo.
