| Koa Santos | |
| Fullname: | Laukoa Santos |
| Birth Date: | 21 September 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Waikoloa, Hawaii, United States |
| Height: | 178 cm |
| Currentclub: | Colorado Springs Switchbacks |
| Clubnumber: | 2 |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Youthclubs1: | Kona Crush |
| Youthclubs2: | Kealakehe High School |
| Youthyears2: | 2013–2017 |
| Collegeyears1: | 2017–2021 |
| College1: | San Diego State Aztecs |
| Collegecaps1: | 58 |
| Collegegoals1: | 2 |
| Years1: | 2018 |
| Clubs1: | ASC San Diego |
| Caps1: | 2 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021 |
| Clubs2: | Portland Timbers U23s |
| Caps2: | 10 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs3: | Charlotte FC |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs4: | → Charlotte Independence (loan) |
| Caps4: | 19 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Clubs5: | Loudoun United |
| Years5: | 2023 |
| Caps5: | 25 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Clubs6: | Colorado Springs Swtichbacks |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Caps6: | 12 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | June 18, 2024 |
Laukoa Santos (born September 21, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays as a right-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship.
Santos played academy soccer for his local soccer club Kona Crush Academy. Concurrently, Laukoa played high school soccer for Kealakehe High School[1] in Kona, Hawaii. With Kealakehe, Laukoa served as the team's captain, being named Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year, Four-time Big Island Interscholastic,[2] First-team all-state honoree (2016–17), and All-Hawaii team (2016–17). During his career with Kealakehe High School Santos recorded 87 goals and 48 assists during his prep career.[3]
Ahead of the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Laukoa signed a National Letter of Intent[4] to play collegiately for San Diego State University.[5] [6] Laukoa is the first men's soccer player from state of Hawaii to play in the Pac-12.[7] Laukoa would go on to red shirt his first season at San Diego and make his official debut during the 2018 season. On September 24, 2018, Laukoa scored his first collegiate goal against UNLV. Laukoa would finish his collegiate career with 58 appearances, scoring two goals and tallying three assists.. Santos was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll on three consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2021.
While at college, Santos appeared in the National Premier Soccer League with ASC San Diego during their 2018 season, making two regular season appearances.[8] In 2021, Santos played with USL League Two Portland Timbers U23s, scoring two goals in ten appearances.[9]
On February 22, 2022, Santos signed with Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC ahead of their inaugural season.[10] [11] On April 17, 2022, Santos was loaned to USL League One club Charlotte Independence and started for the team the same day in a 2–1 win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm.[12]
Santos joined Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on November 29, 2023.[13]