Last fall the Cerritos Falcons women’s soccer team won CCCAA state championship for the third year in a row. A feat like this can only be accomplished with a great coaching staff.

Assistant coach Memo Gonzalez has played a huge part in the Falcons success and this year, his efforts were recognized as he was voted national assistant coach of the year for women’s soccer by the National Soccer Coaches Association.

Dr. Dan Smith is the Dean of Health and Athletics at Cerritos explains what makes Gonzalez deserving of the award, “When you’ve had the success he’s had (of winning) five state championships (in eight seasons) that’s phenomenal.”

In the eight years he has on the coaching staff, the Falcons have won the South Coast Conference every year and won five state championships including three national titles.

There are many things that factor into winning consistently both physically and mentally.

“Focus and concentration is very important and the way you get that is with a great deal of discipline and he has very disciplined practices,” said Smith.

According to Smith, Gonzalez has them follow a rigorous training regimen for a good part of the year that requires them to be awake and ready to go at the crack of dawn.

A program like this can only yield positive results and aside from winning a third straight title, the Falcons accomplished a feat they never had before last season as Smith reveals.

“We had four All-Americans this year. Usually we win a state championship and we figure we’ll get one or two. Last year we got three and we thought that was phenomenal and this year we got four so that’s great.”

In the Falcons previous two championship seasons, the recognition on the coaching staff had gone to head coach Ruben Gonzalez as he won back-to-back national head coach of the year awards.

Gonzalez talks about the honor it is to have Memo on his staff, “It’s a great honor and not only is he a great coach but he’s also my brother so it was a great honor for him to receive that award.”

The elder Gonzalez flew to Philadelphia for the third year in a row. This time however, he was there as an honorary guest to see his younger brother receive his award.

Gonzalez credits not only his younger brother, but also the entire coaching staff for helping him maintain a winning culture.

“You know they say you’re only as good as your assistant coaches and I think that speaks volumes.”

In the 10 seasons prior to the arrival of the elder Gonzalez, Cerritos was a combined 68-111-15 with three playoff appearances and are a combined 218-18-12 in 10 seasons since his arrival and have won 10 straight conference championships.