Etzael Gonzalez begins his first season with the University of South Florida men's soccer program as the Director of Operations after being hired in May of 2022.
Gonzalez joins the Bulls after three seasons as the Performance Analyst for the University of Oklahoma women's soccer program. Gonzalez employs a wealth of experience mentoring players from youth to colligate levels that span over half a decade.
Along with his lengthy list of responsibilities, Gonzalez will work alongside head coach Bob Butehorn to develop short, intermediate, and long-range planning of the program, including budget control and planning for future program functions and expenses. In addition, Gonzalez will coordinate team travel along with logistics for home matches, and create and provide coaches with depth charts for potential student-athletes, while also coordinating official visits of recruits and serving as the liaison to South Florida's men's soccer alumni.
During his time as a performance analyst, Gonzalez’s primary responsibilities included recording the performance of all players, quantifying, and presenting those findings to the staff. To illustrate the findings, Gonzalez created video clips using domain-specific software and procedures. Contributing to his athlete’s game performance, Gonzalez also prepared scouting reports for each of OU’s opponents. Outside of his in-season roles, Gonzalez served as the Director of OU’s summer day camps. From his analysis, scouting of opponents, and cultivating the next generation of Sooners, Gonzalez was a critical contributor to the University of Oklahoma’s women’s soccer program.
Following a collegiate career at Hardin Simmons University, Gonzalez went on to coach with MLS Club member FC Dallas Youth, which led him to accept an offer as a guest coach with the FC Dallas Development Academy. At the Academy, he mentored US youth national team players of FC Dallas’ Academy, working side-by-side with Academy and North Texas SC coaches. Gonzalez was then recruited and would go on to join OU’s Strength and Conditioning Department in the Summer of 2019, where he reported to the Olympic Sports Director. Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez expanded his role at OU to the soccer pitch, joining the women’s soccer staff.
Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 2019 and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration at OU, where he was previously funded as an academic graduate assistant for student-athletes. Gonzalez holds a USSF "C" license and is currently pursuing his “B” license.
