Carlos Gonzalez enters his second year on the Cowgirl coaching staff after working with head coach Randi Berg for the past seven seasons at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Gonzalez brings over 20 years of coaching and playing experience to the NMHU program.

While coaching at Santa Fe High School, Gonzalez focused on the development of pitchers and catchers. During this time the team qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs every year and under his direction 70 percent of the girls he helped develop were recruited to play collegiate softball. Gonzalez’s athletes dot the rosters of programs at Morgan State, Clark Atlanta & Sheppard University, Pasadena City College, Hawaii-Hilo, Fullerton Community College and numerous others.

Gonzalez also brings extensive experience with coaching travel teams in the very strong California summer leagues. He has directed the Cal Ladyhawks U18 program to a top ten ranking in California and top three national finishes in tournaments across the western states. During his years as coach and manager of the SoCal No Mercy U18 squad an impressive 80 percent of his players went on to play at the collegiate level.

Gonzalez also played at the highest level in men’s Fastpitch softball for more than 20 years and has battled and had success against some of the game’s most dominant pitchers including Mike White (former University of Oregon and current Texas softball coach), Kirk Walker (UCLA) and Debbie Day (Arizona). Gonzalez earned national distinction as both a catcher and position player while competing in the elite Flor de Cana Fastpitch League and helped the SoCal Sun Devils to a California state title and a top ten finish at the national tournament. Gonzalez currently manages a Masters team — “The Budmen” — and his squad has twice been runner-up at the national tournament (2015, 2016).

Gonzalez currently resides in Las Vegas, New Mexico, during the school year and returns to his home in Montebello, California, during the off season. He has a daughter, Brittany Gonzalez, who attended Clark Atlanta & Sheppard University as a pitcher. Gonzalez attended Pasadena City College prior to beginning his own business in Southern California.