Junior Gonzalez
Head Coach • othoniel.gonzalez@ucr.edu
Othoniel “Junior” Gonzalez enters his third season as head coach of the UC Riverside men’s soccer program. Gonzalez is the school’s winningest coach at the NCAA Division I level.

Gonzalez had been the top assistant under previous Head Coach Nat Gonzalez for three years since the program’s inception in 2001.

In 2005 Gonzalez led the Highlanders to a 6-12-1 overall record and a 4-6-0 conference record, finishing fourth in the Big West.
In 2004, his first year in charge Gonzalez tied a school record at the Division I level with wins with a 7-10-1 record while leading the Highlanders to a program best third place finish in the Big West conference.

Gonzalez attended UCLA under current Columbus Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid, where he helped the Bruins to three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and a 1997 NCAA National Championship. He played primarily at center midfield but saw time as a sweeper during his senior campaign. He graduated in the fall of 2000 with a degree in history.

Following his graduation he went on to play with the San Diego Flash of the professional A-League. Gonzalez has also played for the Under-18 National Team and for the Utah Blitz of the United Soccer League Third Division.

In addition to his playing credentials, he holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” license, has coached with the Cal South Olympic Development Program Boys’ ‘85, ‘86, and ‘89 teams and is a member of the USYSA Region IV staff. He is also currently on the coaching staff for the Alta Loma Arsenal club teams and is an assistant coach for the ‘90 regional team.

Gonzalez graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School in 1995, where he was a four-year varsity letterman. He earned all-league honors as a junior and a senior. In his free time, Gonzalez enjoys playing golf and running. He is married and resides in Rancho Cucamonga.

Jimmy Nordberg
Assistant Coach • james.nordberg@ucr.edu

Jimmy Nordberg enters his third season as an assistant for the Highlander men’s soccer team.

Nordberg has an impressive list of coaching credentials. He has been the head coach of the Arsenal Soccer Club teams since 2001 and is technical director of Arsenal’s Boys Youth program. In addition to coaching the two club teams he also served as the technical director of the Apple Valley Soccer Club from 2003-2004.

He earned his associates of arts degree in human services from Cal State San Bernardino in 2002 and also earned his associates of science degree in fire science from Mt. San Antonio College in 2000.

Nordberg played collegiate soccer at Azusa Pacific University from 1997-98 and at Cal State San Bernardino from 1999-2002. While playing collegiate soccer he earned All-CCAA, All-Far West and All-American honors in 2002 while playing at CSUSB. He also earned All-GSAC honors while playing at Azusa Pacific in 1998.

Nordberg, who is single and resides in Alta Loma, holds his U.S. Soccer Federation “A” license. He enjoys watching sports and traveling in his spare time.

Ben Davies
Assistant Coach • ben.davies@.ucr.edu

A former letterwinner at UC Riverside, Ben Davies returns to his alma mater in the fall of 2007 for his first season as assistant coach.

Davies starred for the Highlanders from 2001-04, appearing in 58 games as a central defender. Davies’ leadership on the field saw UCR’s record improve from one victory in his freshman campaign to a school-record-tying seven victories and program-best third place finish in the Big West Conference as a senior. During his career, Davies scored three goals and was twice named Honorable Mention All-Big West. He graduated in the fall of 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Business.

He served as an assistant coach under Noah Kooiman at Cal State San Bernardino in 2005. Davies also coaches for the Alta Loma Arsenal Soccer Club in the summers.

Davies played four years at Alta Loma High School, earning Second Team All-CIF honors in 2000-01.

He enjoys watching sports and fishing, and lives in Alta Loma, CA.