Although the Gavilan College men’s soccer program has been back
for all of four complete seasons, newcomer Justin Johnson is
looking to take the team to the next level.
Although the Gavilan College men’s soccer program has been back for all of four complete seasons, newcomer Justin Johnson is looking to take the team to the next level.
A 2008 graduate of San Jose State, Johnson, 27, was hired in early February as the Rams’ new head coach, replacing Albert Marques at the helm after four years.
Marques stepped down in December for personal reasons, Gavilan College Athletic Director Ron Hannon said.
Johnson, meanwhile, will take over the head-coaching duties after he held assistant positions at De Anza College in 2008 and at West Valley College the last two years.
“He’s been around two successful soccer programs,” Hannon said of Johnson, whose team at West Valley compiled an overall record of 16-5-2 a year ago, 12-1-1 in the Coast Conference, and won the NorCal playoffs before falling to Mount San Antonio College in the state finals.
Johnson’s ties to the San Jose scene, Hannon feels, will only benefit Gavilan’s program in the long run. As the Rams look to recruit local talent, Johnson’s connections to nearby soccer clubs will help supplement the Rams’ roster.
“His connection with San Jose and other places will be helpful in recruiting,” Hannon said.
Though also the head coach of the junior varsity team at Mitty, Johnson said Gavilan is his No. 1 priority, and he’s been proving as much since he was hired earlier this year.
He’s been talking with club coaches, with high school coaches, and trying to establish as many contacts as possible and talk with as many people as possible.
It’s almost as if he were running for political office.
Despite his brief tenure, though, Johnson said he’s already received commitments from players in Watsonville, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister.
“I feel like it’s an Easter egg hunt. You’re not exactly sure where to look, but you’re looking everywhere,” said Johnson, who is also a faculty member at Gavilan and is teaching within the kinisiology and athletic department.
“Just working hard and getting it off the ground,” he added. “We’ve got a lot of talent in the area, as far as soccer goes. Now it’s about bringing in that talent under one roof, with one goal on one team.”
The Rams are still rather new to Coast Conference soccer, however.
Up until the 2007 season, Gavilan had been without a men’s soccer program since 1989. But despite slow and steady improvements made by the Rams the last few years, it hasn’t much changed the team’s win-loss record.
Gavilan compiled an overall record of 2-15-3 last season and 0-12-2 in the Coast Conference, while its best season since returning to the pitch was in 2009, when it went 3-8-2 in the Coast Conference, 4-13-3 overall.
Part of the attraction for Johnson was Gavilan’s newness, though. He has already met with a handful of the expected 12 returnees to next year’s team, but is also looking to bring out some of the other student-athletes at Gavilan who might not be playing soccer, for whatever reason.
“These athletes, they don’t have to stop at high school. They can go to college,” said Johnson, who played outside back at West Valley College for two years before later playing at San Jose State.
“Hopefully, we’ll prepare them for that and give them an outlet and give them an opportunity to grow both academically and athletically,” he added.
This will be Johnson’s fourth year of coaching at the junior college level.
As a 2002 graduate of Pioneer High School in San Jose, he bases success not only on wins and losses, but also seeing his players transfer to four-year universities.
“I look forward to working with the players and seeing the talent that comes out of the area,” Johnson said. “I’m a soccer coach. But first, I’m a teacher and I want to see players succeed and go off to four-year universities.
“I see that as a challenge, and I look forward to taking that on.”
