Keisuke Ota '22 '24MS joined the team initially in 2021 as a volunteer assistant and was promoted to assistant coach in 2023. Ota was born in Japan and he became a professional soccer player in 2000. He played at J1 League and J2 League clubs including Shimizu S-Pulse, Kashiwa Reysol, JEF United Chiba, Ventforet Kofu, Tokushima Vortis, and FC Gifu. He appeared in 277 league matches and scored 25 goals. He also appeared in 20 games in the Emperor's Cup scoring 4 goals. He had 31 appearances in the J. League Cup scoring 7 goals. In the Asian Winner's Cup, he had 3 appearances. He appeared in a total of 331 matches and scored 36 career goals. He retired from playing professional soccer in 2015 and moved to the United States.
Ota served as a member on the inaugural Big 12 staff following two successful years as a volunteer assistant on the Knights' 2022 American Athletic Conference championship team. He assisted in UCF's 10-7-1 (5-4-1 Big 12) record, along with a trip to the conference semifinals. In Austin, Texas, the Knights defeated the 2022 conference runner-ups, TCU, 3-2 to garner UCF Athletics its first postseason win in the Big 12. In the program's inaugural conference home match at the UCF Soccer Complex, the Knights defeated reigning champions, West Virginia, 4-2.
Ota served as a member on the inaugural Big 12 staff following two successful years as a volunteer assistant on the Knights' 2022 American Athletic Conference championship team. He assisted in UCF's 10-7-1 (5-4-1 Big 12) record, along with a trip to the conference semifinals. In Austin, Texas, the Knights defeated the 2022 conference runner-ups, TCU, 3-2 to garner UCF Athletics its first postseason win in the Big 12. In the program's inaugural conference home match at the UCF Soccer Complex, the Knights defeated reigning champions, West Virginia, 4-2.
He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology (sport and athletic coaching track) in 2022 and a master's degree in 2024 from the University of Central Florida. He speaks English and Japanese.