Sailors name Hernandez head coach

Steve Virgen

Ryan Hernandez, a former Newport Harbor High boys soccer player who

has been an assistant coach for the past two years, is the varsity

program’s new head coach, the school’s boys athletic director, Eric

Tweit, said Wednesday.

Hernandez, 21, played varsity for three years for the Sailors and

then became the coach of the frosh-soph team for the 2000-01 season.

He then served as the varsity assistant coach the next two years.

During those three years, the Sailors have had as many coaches, as

Matt West, Kevin Esparza and then Martyn Hansford left the program.

West is coaching at Mater Dei, while Esparza is now an assistant

coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Hanford’s club coaching schedule

conflicted with his job at Newport, so he remained with club soccer,

Tweit said.

Hernandez plans to end the quick turnover of the position.

“I have seen three different coaches here and that’s why I want to

coach, so I can stay, so they can have someone who will be around for

more than one year,” Hernandez said. “I would want to be here for

awhile. I would love to teach at Newport and to be coach there, too,

that would be awesome.”

Hernandez said he will be taking a few classes at Orange Coast

College this fall, but will devote much of his time to the Sailors in

the winter. He plans to transfer to a four-year university, earn an

undergraduate degree and become a teacher.

“I have a great head start now,” Hernandez said. “I am so

fortunate to be able to do this. It will definitely help me out in

the future.”

Hernandez has designated assistants and they include, former

Newport player Will Sanchez, who will coach the frosh-soph team, and

Spencer McDearmon, a former OCC soccer player who will coach the

junior varsity team. David Zimmerman, who played on the first Newport

Harbor boys soccer team in 1974, will assist Hernandez with the

varsity squad.

Hernandez said Zimmerman, OCC men’s soccer coach Laird Hayes and

Esparza have been great influences and have inspired the young coach

who has high hopes for the Sailors

Last year, Newport Harbor was one goal away from becoming

co-champion of the Sea View League, as the Sailors finished the

season with a 2-2 tie with outright champion Woodbridge. Newport,

which finished 8-4-4, 6-1-3 in league last season, returns a talented

team, including seniors Matt Tracy, Will Guzman and Joel Walker,

Hernandez said.

“I think we can win the [Sea View League],” Hernandez said. “I’m

going to set the goals and it’s up to them. Winning league and going

to the playoffs, I think those are goals that can be achieved if we

put the work in.”