Othoniel “Junior” Gonzalez was named head coach of the UC Riverside Men’s Soccer program on February 11, 2004 after serving as the team’s lead assistant since the program’s re-start in 2001.
In 2004, his first year at the helm, Gonzalez and company tied the school Division I record for wins posting a 7-10-1 record while leading the Highlanders to a program-best third place finish in the Big West conference. In 2005, UCR tied its program record for conference wins in a season, and in 2007, the Highlanders set what was then the school mark for winning percentage in a season.
The best was yet to come, however, as in 2011, the Highlanders re-wrote the record books posting a 9-6-4 mark, making its first-ever appearance in the Big West Conference Tournament. Among those nine wins were three victories against ranked opponents—vs. #7 UC Santa Barbara, 3-1, on September 28; at. #15 UC Santa Barbara, 3-2, on October 22; and at #9 UC Irvine, 3-2, on October 29.
The Highlanders finished the season with an RPI of 39, and were one of the final teams left out of the 48-team NCAA Tournament. Gonzalez earned his first Big West Conference Coach of the Year award at season's end.
In 2012, the Highlanders set program Division I-era records for points, goals and assists rising as high as number 19 in the national rankings. UC Riverside also broke its year-old Division I wins record posting a 10-8 mark that included five shutouts and a pair of wins over perennial contender UC Irvine.
Gonzalez attended UCLA under Head Coach Sigi Schmid, where he helped the Bruins to three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and a 1997 NCAA National Championship. He played primarily at center midfield but saw time as a sweeper during his senior campaign. He graduated in the fall of 2000 with a degree in history.
Following graduation he went on to play with the San Diego Flash of the professional A-League. Gonzalez also played for the Under-18 National Team and for the Utah Blitz of the United Soccer League Third Division.
In addition to his playing credentials, Gonzalez holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” license; and is the head coach for the 94' USYSA Region IV Olympic Development Program. He is also on the coaching staff for the Arsenal FC club teams.
Gonzalez graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School in 1995, where he was a four-year varsity letterman. He earned all-league honors as a junior and a senior.
In his free time, Gonzalez enjoys playing golf and cycling. He and his wife, Melissa, and their son and daughter, reside in Rancho Cucamonga.
