The Master's University Women's Soccer

Highlights: Enters his fourth season as The Master's University's women's soccer head coach in 2026. Has a career record of 38-14-7, 24-6-4 in conference. Led TMU to a GSAC Tournament title in 2025 and also secured an NAIA National Championship berth behind Maddy Traylor's GSAC Player of the Year season. Assistant coach at TMU in 2022 Was the head coach of both the boys and girls varsity soccer programs at Flintridge Prep in La Cañada, Calif. from 2004-2023 Co-founder and director of coaching with the Los Angeles Soccer Club from 2014-2023 USSF Youth National Team training center staff, development coach and scout Men's assistant coach at Cal Tech University Volunteer assistant coach for both men's & women's soccer at Cal State, Los Angeles Graduated from Cal State, Los Angeles with a degree in U.S. History in 2005 Esteban and his wife Nicole live in La Cañada and have four children -- Silas, Justus, Priscilla and Dantes.

Coaching and Athletic Career Coach Bates completed his fifth season as head coach in 2026 with the women's team gaining the best finish in program history with a fifth place overall at the NAIA Swimming & Diving National Championships. The men's team finished seventh in the nation. Bates coached both Evan Nail and Katherine Dyer to NAIA records and national titles in the 2026 season. TMU's women's 400 freestyle relay also set the NAIA record, shattering the previous record which had stood for 11 years.  In 2024, he guided Katherine Dyer to two NAIA titles in the 200 IM and 400 IM, both of which were NAIA meet records.   In his first season as head coach in 2022, Bates led the Mustangs to their highest national ranking in program history for both the men and women. Several program records were set under his leadership, including the best-ever finish by a Mustang at the NAIA Championships at the time (Emma McMurray, fourth-place 100-yard fly). Curren's goal is to "continue to build a program that can compete at the elite NAIA level and who’s love and commitment to Christ and Scripture is evident to everyone in the pool and on the deck." Co-founded Mariner Aquatic Club that coached multiple CIF qualifiers. Previously coached at Saugus High School. Swam at California Baptist University, where he won an NAIA National Championship and finished as Runner-Up. Multi-time CIF qualifier in four years at Hart High School, where the team finished as CIF Runner-Up his senior year. Bates is a five-time World Body Surfing Champion.  Worked five years as an LA County Beach Lifeguard and was a USLA National Lifeguard Champion. Graduated from TMU with a bachelor’s degree in business. Curren and wife Lynlee, also a graduate of TMU, have one son and another one on the way. They live locally in Newhall.