Monte Vista Christian announced the addition of two new head coaches for the upcoming 2024-25 prep sports year.
The school’s athletics website posted in June that Juan Diego Alvarez and Al Toney were brought on board to lead the girls’ soccer and boys’ basketball programs, respectively.
It’ll be Alvarez’s first head coaching gig at the prep level, but the Aptos High alum brings 15 years of coaching experience and is a seasoned veteran on the pitch.
One of his main goals is creating a feeder system that begins from as early as the middle school level.
“If we want to be a competitive program, we want to be able to create an environment where all the players at all levels are able to learn and be confident, not only on the field, but also off the field,” Alvarez said.
In 2019, he began coaching the Santa Cruz County Football Club Revolution in the NorCal Premier League. He also owns a National D coaching license from the U.S. Soccer Federation.
MVC Athletics Director Matt Coleman said on the school’s website that, “It was clear in the interview process, which included some of our current players, that Coach Alvarez has a passion for the game, is incredibly detail-oriented, and knows how to train a wide variety of skill sets.
“He is strategic in the way he thinks through the game and has a deep understanding of what it takes for players to increase in both their mental and physical game. We are thrilled to have him join our community.”
Alvarez, 39, is no stranger when it comes to rebuilding and even creating soccer programs.
In 2020, he moved his family to Jalisco, Mexico where he started a club that included three teams — two adult squads and one youth team.
After his return to the States a year later, Alvarez got the itch to coach again. He joined the Santa Cruz Breakers — now called Santa Cruz United FC — before making the move to MVC.
Toney has more than 30 years of coaching experience at the middle school, high school and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) levels.
According to the MVC athletics website, Toney has amassed more than 400 wins, including five section championships, and was honored as Coach of the Year seven times.
Toney worked and trained with former NBA stars such as Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash along with current ones including Isaiah Thomas, Jordan Poole, Harrison Barnes and Michael Bradley.
The list continues with WNBA players in former Stanford teammates Cameron Brink and Hailey Jones — a Santa Cruz native who currently plays for the Atlanta Dream.
“It is my desire to elevate the brand of MVC basketball by building through the influence of the Lord, togetherness, toughness, and willingness to make sacrifices for one another to be successful,” Toney said on MVC’s athletics website. “We will play entertaining basketball, which will excite the student body, staff, faculty and community to come out and cheer, and support what the Lord will be creating through these young student-athletes.”
Coleman said in a statement that “Toney brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. His enthusiasm is contagious, and his commitment to fostering a collaborative environment is inspiring…We are confident his leadership will usher in a new era of excellence for MVC basketball.”
Erik Beckmen had the interim title removed after he was promoted to new head coach of the track and field program. He led both the girls’ and boys’ teams to Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division titles this past spring.
“This was an easy decision. He didn’t take this role on with a transitional mindset. He embraced the opportunity and we immediately felt his dedication and passion for our student-athletes,” Coleman said.
Beckmen is also the current head coach for the Mustangs’ cross country program. Coleman said in an announcement that the school plans to hire additional assistant coaches to help make an impact for the track and field athletes.
“He’s done a tremendous job and we are thrilled that Coach Beckmen will now be leading both our cross country and track and field programs,” Coleman said.
