Staff Reports
Gilroy– The Gavilan College Athletic Department announced the hiring of three coaches for the upcoming year Monday.
In part-time positions, the Rams hired Jorge Espinoza as the women’s soccer coach and Tito Addison as the men’s basketball coach. Pending approval of the Gavilan Board of Trustees in June, Neal Andrade, who has been a part-time faculty member and head baseball coach since 2003, will be offered the full-time position of baseball head coach.
Espinoza has been president and head coach of the Jorge Espinoza Soccer Academy (JESA) in San Jose since 2002, an academy for male and female players from seven to 17 years old. From 2004 to 2005, he was the head girls’ varsity soccer coach at Del Mar High School in San Jose, where he won a division championship and was named coach of the year in the Blossom Valley Athletic League in 2004-2005.
Espinoza also brings coaching experience from the professional ranks. He served as an assistant coach for the MLS’ New England Revolution (2001), and interim head coach and assistant coach for the San Jose Clash/Earthquakes (1998-1999).
He was also the head mens’ soccer coach at Rosary College (Dominican College) in River Forest, Ill. from 1990 to 1993.
As a player, Espinoza suited up for the Milwaukee Wave-Illinois Thunder of the North Professional Soccer League (NPSL) from 1990-1992 and the North York Comets of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) from 1988-1989. Among other stints with several other professional teams, Espinoza also played with the Chile national team in the 1975 Pan-American Games.
Addison, the new men’s basketball coach, is a graduate of San Jose State. Addison’s most recent coaching experience was this past season as an assistant coach for San Jose State women’s basketball team.
Prior to that he was the women’s basketball head coach at Mission College in Santa Clara (2002- 2005). In his three seasons at Mission, Addison re-established a dormant basketball program, starting his first season with only four eligible players. In his second season, the team had an overall record above .500 and in Addison’s third year, the team became the Coast Conference-North co-champions.
Addison has been head coach/co-owner of High School Girls’ Elite Basketball (1999-2005), women’s basketball assistant coach in 2001-2002 at NCAA Division II Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont and head varsity girls’ basketball coach for league champion Prospect High School in Saratoga from 1998-2001.
As a player, Addison was a high school all-state selection and an NCAA Division I player in the Big West, where he received all-conference honors.
