July 24, 2006

DAYTON, Ohio -  University of Dayton head women's soccer coach Mike Tucker announced the hiring of Sergio Gonzalez as an assistant coach on Monday. Gonzalez comes to Dayton from Slippery Rock to replace Manoj Khettry who left UD to become head coach at St. Bonaventure University.

"Sergio is a welcome addition to our staff," Tucker said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge in both goalkeeping and soccer overall. His success during his playing days and his coaching career should translate into better play out of our goalkeepers this season."

Gonzalez was an assistant coach at The Rock for six seasons helping the women's team to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship in 2003 and 2004. He also coached three consecutive PSAC Player of the Year honorees beginning in 2003 as well as the 2003 PSAC Rookie of the Year. Slippery Rock was ranked 22nd in the final NSCAA Division II National Poll.

His coaching experience includes being a staff coach for former women's national team coach, Olympic gold medal and world cup winner Tony DiCicco's Soccer Plus Goalkeeper Camp. He was the goalkeeper coach for the Pennsylvania West Olympic Development program, and the Northern Steel Soccer Club. Gonzalez was also a member of the Region I Olympic Development Program.

Gonzalez himself is a former standout goalie. He was a gold medal winner at Tony DiCicco's Soccer Plus Goalkeeper Camp and was a three-year starter, team captain and holds all the goalkeeping records at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. He earned three all-conference honors and was a second-team all-region selection in 1999. He also earned Salve Regina's "Male Athlete of the Year" award in 1999-2000.

He earned three all-conference honors and was a second-team all-region selection in 1999. He also earned Salve Regina's "Male Athlete of the Year" award in 1999-2000.

Prior to enrolling at Salve Regina, he earned first-team all-state Group 4, Section I recognition at Vernon Township (N.J.) High School.

Gonzalez, who holds a NSCAA National Coaching Diploma, received his B.A. in criminal justice from Salve Regina. He received his master's degree in Student Personnel from Slippery Rock in the summer of 2003.

Dayton advanced to the semifinals of the 2005 Atlantic 10 Championships to cap a 10-7-3 season. A group of 18 returnees including Preseason All A-10 goalkeeper Niki Reed and 10 newcomers look to lead the Flyers back to the A-10 Championship Finals for the fifth time in six seasons this year when the 2006 schedule begins with an exhibition match against Bowling Green on Friday, August 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET.