Although his team was left short on being named the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) National Champion, Cerritos College head coach Benny Artiaga was named the National Coach of the Year. Artiaga and the Falcons won their third CCCAA State Championship and finished the year ranked #2 in the country and finished with a 14-3-8 record. It marks the third time he has led Cerritos to a state title and finished the year just shy of a national title. He will now travel to Philadelphia, PA in January to receive his award at the NSCAA National Convention.

"I am truly blessed and honored to win this award,' said Artiaga. "I really don't know what to feel. I'm excited, shocked, humbled and at the same time it's a little bittersweet too because while I'm being recognized for my achievements, my team was left out."

The Falcons concluded the season by defeating South Coast Conference rival Mt. San Antonio College, 3-1 in the state title game. Prior to their championship win, Cerritos had lost and tied the Mounties in their two previous meetings."

"This will motivate me even more to bring our program a national title one day, a feat that has just slipped through our hands," added Artiaga.

The award marks the second time Artiaga has been named the National Coach of the Year, while he has received the West Region Coach of the Year three times, including this season. After leading his team to the title in 2006, Artiaga received the award, while he was also nominated in 2008 when the Falcons won the state title.

"In 2006, when I was blessed to have won this award, I was so unprepared that I went to the banquet in jeans and a shirt," recalled Artiaga. "To my complete surprise, my name was called and there was utter disbelief. I had to borrow women's coach Ruben Gonzalez's jacket seconds after my name was called so I didn't go up to the podium in front of so many people looking silly. Now, I'm actually happy that this time I can actually have a suit ready and represent my school with much more class."

"This truly could not have happened without my entire coaching staff, players and administration," said Artiaga. "We get so much support here at Cerritos and I'd like to give thanks starting from the top, College President/Superintendent Dr Linda Lacy, Dean of Athletics Dr. Dan Smith, Athletics Director Dan Clauss, Maria Castro, our athletic trainer, Sports Information Director John Van Gaston, our Athletic Counselor Mike Miles, Lucy Romero, our eligibility specialist, and Dean Grosfeld, our Assistant Athletics Director. My sophomores were just absolutely amazing this year and they are a group that we will always be close to. My lead assistant coach Raul Avellaneda is so instrumental in our success and has been such a loyal coach and friend from the beginning.

"My family and son have had to endure so much throughout this whole process. You tend to isolate yourself, especially when things aren't going right. My beautiful son Landon, who spends a lot of time on the field, is like every player's little brother and that's truly what we became here at Cerritos, a family. This year every sophomore will transfer and that's the biggest reward."