Othoniel “Junior” Gonzalez has been appointed as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros with Brett Uttley as an assistant coach. The Houston Dynamo technical staff, led by Wilmer Cabrera and Mat Jordan, selected Gonzalez.
“As an organization we are very pleased to welcome Junior Gonzales to the Houston Dynamo technical staff as our head coach of the RGV FC Toros,” vice president and general manager Matt Jordan said. “He brings a wealth of experience at all levels of soccer in the United States. His experience at the professional level, with the U.S. National Team programs and work in collegiate ranks and in player development will be an important addition to our club moving forward. With this hire we believe we’ve added one of the premier up and coming coaches in the country.”
Before taking on the position as head coach of the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Gonzalez served as the assistant coach of the Seattle Sounders FC S2. Junior Gonzalez has previously worked with Wilmer Cabrera in Chivas USA as an assistant coach and director scouting from 2013-2014. Other positions that Gonzalez has held include U.S Boys U-15 National Team assistant coach and head scout for the U-17 National team.
“I am honored and excited to join the Houston Dynamo Technical staff as the head coach of RGV FC Toros. The relationship between the USL and MLS is extremely important for the development of players and offers a platform to integrate the Houston Dynamo Developmental Academy, RGV FC players and Houston Dynamo first-team players,” Gonzalez said. “I look forward to collaborating with Wilmer Cabrera and Matt Jordan to continue the RGV FC project, implementing a quality brand of soccer with the philosophy that team and the process are the most important.”
In 2001, Othoniel Gonzalez began his coaching career taking on the position of assistant coach of the University of California, Riverside. In three year he was promoted to head coach of the program and helped 30 players receive All-Big West Conference accolades. Gonzalez received accolades as well, being named Big West Coach of the Year in 2011.
