Courtesy of Pima Athletics
Tucson, AZ –The Pima Community College men’s soccer program received another national award on Friday and it belongs to the coaches.
Aztecs men’s soccer coach David Cosgrove and assistant coaches Javier Holguin, Alex Rangel and Gabe Mendoza were named the United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I Coaching Staff of the Year.
The coaches led the Aztecs to their first NJCAA Division I National Championship, the ACCAC conference championship, the Region I, Division I title and the West District crown. Not only was it the program’s first national championship but capturing all four in one season.
Holguin was in his eighth season with the Aztecs. Gabe Mendoza (Desert View HS) played for Cosgrove from 2016-2017 but transferred into a coaching role. Alex Rangel played for Pima from 2007-2008 and was in his first year with the program as a Goalkeepers Coach.
“It is the icing on the cake. The coaching staff has always put it in the hard work and it all came out perfectly for us,” Cosgrove said. “Alex is qualified as a keepers coach and he made a huge impact. He had a good playing career with us and for him to come back and experience a national championship is great.
“Javi (Holguin) has been the longest tenured assistant coach in my 20 years at Pima. He is the lead recruiter and he does a lot of the technical and tactical work we do. He also runs the off-season training. Javi has taken a top 20 program, to being top 5 and now a national championshipprogram.
“Gabe (Mendoza) is a young coach and relates well to the guys. He’s put a lot into this program as a player and coach. It’s been terrific to watch him step into the role as a good player into a very good coach.”
Sophomore forward Hugo Kametani was named United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division I National Player of the Year on Thursday.
“Hugo earned the award. He was the top JC player in the country,” Cosgrove said. “There was no doubt when you look at his season. The amount of goals he had but more importantly, the responsibility he took in the games (at the national tournament). He didn’t shy away from the big moments and he did it time and time again. He just had thebiggest impact and everyone felt confident in him to change the game.”
Cosgrove and his staff are the first Pima national staff of the year since Stacy Iveson and her softball staff earned the honor through the NJCAA back in 2006.
The Aztecs men’s soccer team finished with a program-best record of 26-2 and an 18-2 record in ACCAC conference play.
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