Mt. SAC's Juan Sanchez Named SCC Men's Sports Coach of the Year For Record 5th Time
Mt. San Antonio College men's soccer head coach Juan Sanchez was selected 2021-2021 South Coast Conference Men's Sports Coach of the Year for a SCC record fifth time in his career. Mt. SAC cross country coach Giovanni Lanaro picked up the SCC Women's Sports Coach of the Year as both were chosen for their achievements at the first SCC athletic directors meeting of the 2022-23 year Wednesday at Cerritos College.
It was also the first in-person meeting by conference ADs in nearly three years due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the convenience of holding Zoom meetings for conference business in general.
Sanchez, who last won the award in 2012-13, directed Mt. SAC to a SCC title, then the CCCAA state championship with a 19-2-2 overall record. He was named the state South Region Coach of the Year and was picked SCC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year (North Division) for an amazing 11th time. He and his assistants were later picked by United Soccer Coaches as DIII Southwest Staff of the Year.
Sanchez also won the SCC Men's Sports Coach of the Year in 2003-2004, 2009-2010, and 2011-12. Also nominated this year was Cerritos men's soccer coach Benny Artiaga, who directed the Falcons to the South Division title and a 17-5-1 overall record.
Mt. SAC picked up the daily double with Lanaro, once a state champion pole vaulter at the Walnut campus, directing the Mounties women's cross country team to the Triple Crown of racing in winning the SCC, the SoCal and state titles. Lanaro then did the same in women's track and field as he guided Mt. SAC to another triple title run. He was named conference coach of the year for both sports.
Also nominated for the women's sports award were Pasadena City College volleyball coach Mike Terrill, who set a state record by directing the most conference victories om a season, an 18-0 undefeated run to the 2021 SCC crown, and a #2 seed in the SoCal Regional Playoffs, and Cerritos softball coach Kodee Murray, who helped the Falcons reach a 32-12 record and the #2 seed in that sport's regionals.
It was the seventh time in the conference's history that one school had both coach awards and fifth time that Mt. SAC pulled off the feat.
LIST OF PAST SOUTH COAST ALL-SPORTS COACHES OF THE YEAR
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.