After leading his team to their second NSCAA National Championship and third state title in the last six seasons, Cerritos College head coach Ruben Gonzalez has been named the West Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He is one of four finalists to be named the National Coach of the Year, which will be awarded at the NSCAA Convention. The award is the first for Gonzalez, who has spent the last eight years with the Falcons and has compiled a remarkable 170-17-13 record with eight South Coast Conference titles.

"This is a great honor to receive for myself, as well as for the program," said Gonzalez. "I'm very happy to have been recognized for the team's accomplishments, and just as much credit goes to my staff and the players. It's something that the entire program and be proud of."

Gonzalez and his Falcons won their third state title and second national title after defeating previous #1-ranked and undefeated Santiago Canyon College, 2-0 in the state championship game. Cerritos prepared for the state tournament's Friday-Sunday format by playing their first 10 games on the road, with three of those weekends set in that format.

Gonzalez will be travelling to Indianapolis, IN for the NSCAA Convention on January 16-20, 2013, where he will accept the National Championship plaque for the second time, while the National Coach of the Year will be announced.