A spotlight on the new coach for the varsity boys soccer team
Staff Writer
The AHS Boys Varsity team has a new coach, Gabe Gallegos and he is coming into this season with one goal in mind.
“It was pretty simple; you know, last year unfortunately, they placed 14th in NCS. They knew they needed a coach that can help them get over the hump. So my job: help us go further in NCS then we did last year,” said Gallegos.
As someone who has coached for the James Logan, Mission San Jose, Hayward, and Irvington High Schools, Gallegos said, “I heard that American wanted a coach that can get to the next level. I did get offers to coach at other high schools, but I want to coach here because I felt the chemistry with these boys. There’s a good group here that then needs that extra skill set. I was just perfect for the job.”
Coaching has not always been an easy job for Gallegos, “I got a call from Mission San Jose High School and they had me there for five years as a coach. Unfortunately, it all came to an end when one of my coaches, my mentor, ended up passing away. So at that point, it was kind of hard to coach again, with that program, so I took a break.” He continues, “finally, I said, you know, you know what, I’m gonna try it again. So I [took a] position at Hayward High School. That first year was a rough year just getting to know the program, but the second year, we did so well. We took a [NCS] championship with the team.”
How will the American team achieve this same goal? “The team has to want it. I can only do so much. They are the team, they’re the players. They’re the ones that have to play on the field. I can teach them, but it’s up to them if they want it,” said Gallegos. “ I think this team has the capability and a good chance this year. They totally have the heart. They’re cooperative, they’re organized, they’re disciplined, and you know, they’re willing to learn the game.”
Nathan Cao (12) said, “we need to have an open mindset. I mean, he’s been coaching for what, 17 plus years, so we have to have some trust in him.” Cao continued “We all understand the game. When we have suggestions, we just bring it up to him, he’s very understanding so coming to a conclusion is fairly easy with him.”
“The only thing that’s remained constant is our players. We know what works for us and the older players play a big responsibility in making lineups, telling kids which positions to play, but also giving the kids the freedom to play what they enjoy. We always try to let everyone play where they feel they can make the biggest impact and, so far it’s working,” said Saaketh Sriram (11). “Last year we made NCIS for the first time in a long time and I see us doing it again this year.”
Cao spoke more on the role of older players, “We need to keep stability throughout. All of the coaches that we’ve had have soccer backgrounds, but for American, we ease them in like, ‘Okay, this is our team. This is how we have been playing in the past, what has worked, hasn’t. We just give them pointers on our past seasons and allow them to build off of that.”
How has the coach responded to this style? “Coach Gabe lets us do our own thing. He gives us a lot of responsibility to work as a team to make decisions. This is probably the most fun that I’ve had playing high school soccer because of the freedom we get, said Sriram.
“I listen pretty much to everything and anything. Sometimes you need to listen to your players and what is best for the team. I’m listening to these youngsters, because when I was growing up, I didn’t have that person to show me a different way, everything’s always been the same, same, same, same things,” said Gallegos.
Cao describes this different way: “Coach Gabe, he’s more like a basketball coach. It’s very different because for a lot of the players, we’ve never had plays or trick plays.”
“In our practices he likes to teach us specific plays. So he teaches us a play, with a unique name, for example, squid, and then during a game, he’ll call out the play name, and we all know what that means. And the other team doesn’t, so it’s good to throw them off,” said Danial Hashemi.
Before American’s lone goal in their one-one tie with Morea Catholic was scored through the “Vision” play, Gallegos said, “my goal is to help them play the game at a different level, to give them something extra to the game that some schools and coaches won’t think of doing. I could add this to the game and change it up. If I can do that for these guys and help them be better and successful then that’s what I’m gonna do.”
“I’ve had three new coaches since freshman year. Each year. It’s been a new coach. They keep quitting. I don’t know why. [laughs] They hate us,” said Keane Chen (11).“I’d like him to stay.”
Caption: Versus Moreau Catholic, As told by coach Gabe Gallegos to push the pace, Nathan Cao (12) advances the ball. “Coach Julian with me, that’ll be great because, you know, to two minds, two different aspects of the game. It’s perfect for what we’re trying to accomplish with these boys, our main goal is to get to NCS. And that’s it,” said Coach Gallegos (PC Melad Rezai (9)).
Eagle Era 
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