Cerro Coso Women’s Soccer Welcomes New Head Coach, Michelle Hernandez
Cerro Coso Community College is excited to announce the hiring of Michelle Hernandez as the new Head Coach of the Women’s Soccer Team. With the return of women’s soccer in Fall 2025, Coach Hernandez is set to lead the program into a new era of competitiveness and student-athlete development.
Coach Hernandez brings a wealth of experience to Cerro Coso, having previously served as an assistant coach for UC Santa Cruz Women’s Soccer. During the 2024 season, she played a key role in helping the team win its first-ever conference championship and secure a spot in the NCAA first-round playoffs. Before her time at UC Santa Cruz, she spent five years at Sacramento City College, rising from assistant coach to associate head coach in 2022. Under her leadership, the program achieved its first playoff appearance in two decades.
While this marks her first head coaching position at the collegiate level, Hernandez feels ready for the challenge.
"My immediate goal at Cerro Coso is to build a program that people are excited to talk about—one that the community can support and connect with. I look forward to rebuilding the women’s soccer program and putting it on the map."
Athletic Director John McHenry expressed confidence in Hernandez’s ability to lead the program:
"Building any program from the ground up is a challenge, but Coach Hernandez has been brought in for her expertise in collegiate women’s soccer and her strong recruiting network throughout the Central Valley. I look forward to seeing the immediate impact she will have as she recruits and builds a competitive team for Fall 2025."
Coach Hernandez emphasized her commitment to fostering a strong team culture, community engagement, and a winning mindset.
"These ladies will be 20 best friends, playing for the love of the game—while staying focused on winning, of course. Our goal is always to push toward the playoffs, and in our first season, we aim to finish with a winning record."
Men’s and Women’s Coyote Soccer Teams will return to competition in Fall 2025, marking an exciting new chapter for Cerro Coso Athletics.