Women's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- gonzalsg@indiana.edu
- Phone:
- (812) 855-9448
Sergio Gonzalez was promoted to associate head coach on Jan. 26, 2017 and has been with the Hoosiers for five seasons, working primarily with the goalkeepers and defenders.
This past season, Gonzalez saw freshman goalkeeper Bethany Kopel play every minute of the year between the pipes. Under his guidance, Kopel ended the year with 96 saves, the second-most ever for a Hoosier freshman. In addition, her five shutouts were the most for an Indiana freshman since 2007 and tied for most 10th-most in a single season for any goalkeeper in program history. Kopel was third in the Big Ten in saves and ranked near the top nationally all season in goalkeeper minutes played. Kopel earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades on Oct. 17 after posting a career-high 12 saves in Indiana’s 2-1 win against Iowa, which is the most in a single game for a Big Ten keeper all season.
Kopel and the Hoosier backline collected three shutouts in non-conference action, including a 1-0 win at No. 23 SMU on Sept. 8, the first Hoosier victory against a ranked opponent since 2010.
In 2016, Gonzalez coached freshman goalkeeper Sarah L’Hommedieu, whose 93 saves and 4.90 saves per game average led the Big Ten. L’Hommedieu earned three weekly conference honors and finished seventh in the country in freshmen saves, while also registering the third-most saves for an IU freshman in program history. In addition, redshirt senior defender Marissa Borschke earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors, the first such accolade for the program since 2013.
The 2016 Hoosiers earned their best overall and conference record and first berth to the Big Ten Tournament since 2013.
In 2015, the Indiana defense registered a scoreless streak of 463 minutes, the second longest in the program’s history. The Hoosier backline was anchored by goalkeeper Sarah Stone, who played ever minute of the 2015 campaign, posting six clean sheets and 93 saves, which ranks as the fifth-most in a single season at IU. Stone completed her career ranked near the top of almost every Indiana goalkeeper category, including second in shutouts with 14 and fourth in saves with 201, making her just the fourth Hoosier to register 200-plus career saves.
The 2014 Indiana defense allowed just 25 goals, the fewest since surrendering 22 during the 2009 campaign. The Hoosiers held opponents to just 11.3 shots per game and 20 assists. Indiana closed out the year with two consecutive shutouts – a 1-0 victory at Purdue and a 2-0 win against Michigan State. Stone, who started 18 games in the net for the Hoosiers, earned four shutouts on the year.
In his first season with the Hoosiers, he guided an IU defense that was led by goalkeeper Shannon Flower to nine shutouts, setting a new Indiana single-season record. Flower played every minute of every game in goal for Indiana, picking up all 15 wins in the process to set a new IU single-season record for goalkeepers. Flower finished her career in the top 10 in school history in goals against average, shutouts, saves and victories. Opponents managed less than 11 total shots per game against a stout Indiana defense that allowed a total of two goals in non-conference play on the way to a school record 8-0-1 start to the year.
Gonzalez came to Bloomington after spending the previous two seasons as the head coach at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The Highlanders, who have competed at the NCAA Division I level since 2007, had 20 players named to Great West Conference All-Academic team and the team received the NSCAA Team Academic Award. Also, three players were named all-conference by College Sports Madness and they set a school record for most shutouts in a season and highest RPI as well.
Prior to his time at NJIT, Gonzalez spent five seasons at the University of Dayton and helped the Flyers to Atlantic 10 Conference titles in his final two seasons. The team also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2010 and posted an overall record of 71-21-15 during his tenure. He coached or recruited three Atlantic 10 Defensive Players of the Year, two A-10 Offensive Players of the year, one A-10 Rookie of the Year and one A-10 Midfielder of the Year. In 2009, he helped Mandi Bäck garner UD's first-ever NSCAA First Team All-American honors and in 2010 saw Colleen Williams receive NSCAA Second-Team All-American accolades.
He was also an assistant coach at Slippery Rock University from 2000-2006 and won a pair of conference titles there. The team also advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2001 and featured a NSCAA First Team All-American.
His coaching also extends to the youth level, where since 2014 he has been the head goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Girls ODP, working with the 2000 age group. Additionally, Gonzalez served as a goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Soccer Development camps in 2015 and 2016. His experience also includes being a director for former United States Women's National Team, Olympic gold medal and World Cup-winning coach Tony DiCicco's Soccer Plus Goalkeeper Camp since 2001. He is also is a member of the NSCAA National Goalkeeping Academy and has his NSCAA Premier Diploma.
While earning his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island, he was a four-year starter and three-time captain and holds all season and career goalkeeping records. Gonzalez went on to pick up a Master's Degree in Student Personnel from Slippery Rock University in 2003 while serving as an assistant coach.
Gonzalez and his wife, Megan, live in Bloomington and have three children, Aiden (5), Lilliana (2) and Nora.
