From the South Coast Conference:
El Camino College men's soccer coach Mike Jacobson and Long Beach City women's water polo coach Chris Oeding were selected the South Coast Conference 2023-2024 Coaches of the Year for all sports in voting by the conference's athletic directors at their Zoom meeting held on Wednesday.
Jacobson directed the Warriors to the 3C2A state championship as the team finished 24-1 and capped the title on a 22-match win streak.
The Warriors won the state title in dominant fashion, outscoring their opponents 20-0 in five playoff games including a 4-0 win in the championship game against Cuyamaca. ECC was SCC South Division champions at 9-0 and won the SCC Tournament title as well.
Jacobson's team were voted national champions by the United Soccer Coaches, becoming only the second team in the history of ECC Athletics to earn the distinction and first since the 1987 Warriors football team were J.C. Gridwire national champs.
Named both SCC South Division Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year, Jacobson guided six All-Americans, including National Player of the Year in Marvin Gamez.
It is the fourth time that Oeding was named a SCC Coach of the Year and first since being a rare double-winner in the 2006-07 sports year when he won for coaching both genders in swimming and water polo.
Oeding directed the program's eighth straight SCC championship as the Vikings have won 73 straight conference games going back to 2015. The Vikings finished 21-12 and advanced as far as the state tourney quarterfinals.
Oeding was first inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame as an athlete in June, then he served once again as an assistant coach for Team USA's women's team at the Paris Olympics.
LIST OF PAST SOUTH COAST ALL-SPORTS COACHES OF THE YEAR
2023-23-M-Giovanni Lanaro (Mt. San Antonio, track and field); W-Dustin Kirk (Cerritos, wrestling)
2021-22--M-Juan Sanchez (Mt. San Antonio, soccer); W-Giovanni Lanaro (Mt. San Antonio, cross country/track and field)
2020-21--Sports Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019-20: M-Fall-John Mosley (East Los Angeles, basketball), M-Spring-Nate Fernley (El Camino, softball)
W-Fall-Jennifer Tanaka (Rio Hondo, women's soccer), W-Spring-Le Valley Pattison (El Camino, beach volleyball)
2018-19: M-Nate Fernley (El Camino, baseball); W-Ruby Rojas (Mt. San Antonio, softball)
2017-18: M-Ron Kamaka (Mt. San Antonio, track/field); W-Ruby Rojas (Mt. San Antonio, softball)
2016-17: M-Pat McGee (Pasadena CC, baseball); W-Ruby Rojas (Mt. San Antonio, softball)
2015-16: M-Ron Kamaka (Mt. San Antonio, track/field); W-co-winners Brian Crichlow (Mt. San Antonio, basketball) and Alvin Kim (Cerritos, tennis)
2014-15: M-Ron Kamaka (Mt. San Antonio, track/field/cross country), W-Jessica Rapoza (El Camino, softball)
2013-14: M-John Mosley (East Los Angeles, basketball), W-Ruben Gonzalez (Cerritos, soccer)
2012-13: M-Juan Sanchez (Mt. San Antonio, soccer), W-Brian Crichlow (Mt. San Antonio, basketball)
2011-12: M-Juan Sanchez (Mt. San Antonio, soccer), W-Ruben Gonzalez (Cerritos, soccer)
2010-11: M-Dean Lofgren (El Camino, track/field/cross country), W-Mike Goff (Mt. San Antonio, track/field)
2009-10: M-Juan Sanchez (Mt. San Antonio, soccer), W-Tammy Silva (Pasadena CC, volleyball)
2008-09: M-Benny Artiaga (Cerritos, soccer), W-Joe Peron (Pasadena CC, basketball)
2007-08: M-Alvin Kim (Cerritos, tennis), W-Kodee Murray (Cerritos, softball)
2006-07: M-Chris Oeding (Long Beach CC, water polo/swimming), W-co-winners Chris Oeding (Long Beach City, water polo/swimming) and Kelly Ford (Mt. San Antonio, softball)
2005-06: M-Casey Crook (Long Beach CC, baseball), W-Laura Beeman (Mt. San Antonio, basketball)
2004-05: M-Chris Oeding (Long Beach CC, water polo/swimming); W-Kelly Ford (Mt. San Antonio, softball)
2003-04: M-Juan Sanchez (Mt. San Antonio, soccer); W-co-winners Laura Beeman (Mt. San Antonio, basketball) and Mauricio Ingrassia (Long Beach CC, soccer)
*Historical Note--Award winners were not kept between 1995-2003. Previous winners were recorded from 1969-1995 with single all men/women sports selections done only until 1985-86 when the SCC decided to name a selection each for men and women.
Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID