Although just 27, Tony Deras’ first coaching job was in high
school, when he helped coach his little brother’s 4-and-under youth
soccer team through the YMCA. Roughly 10 years later, the Morgan
Hill resident will get his first coaching gig at the high school
level, as he was named head varsity soccer coach for the boys team
last week at San Benito High.
HOLLISTER
Although just 27, Tony Deras’ first coaching job was in high school, when he helped coach his little brother’s 4-and-under youth soccer team through the YMCA.
Roughly 10 years later, the Morgan Hill resident will get his first coaching gig at the high school level, as he was named head varsity soccer coach for the boys team last week at San Benito High.
“We’re gonna build it up from scratch,” Deras said during practice on Tuesday. “It’s a new program and we’re starting everyone on the same page.”
Deras has his work cut out for him. The Baler boys compiled a 6-12-1 overall record last season and 3-8-1 in the Tri-County Athletic League to finish in seventh place. But the new skipper has a strong track record with new programs.
After coaching a 9-and-under traveling team through the Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League, Deras in 2006 became the first coach of the upstart Elite SC Independent, a 15-and-under competitive boys soccer team in the San Jose Youth Soccer League.
He still coaches that team, which, despite its limited existence, has several accolades to its name, and is currently ranked No. 9 in the state.
“You’ve just got to be patient with the boys, trying to teach them the right way to play the game,” Deras said. “I’m 100 percent committed, especially when it comes to soccer.”
He later added, “I don’t try to be like a coach who’s always yelling at them. I try to understand them.”
Without a current junior varsity head coach, Deras said he’ll take the reigns of both the varsity and JV for the next couple of weeks as they search for a proper replacement, something he didn’t seem to have much of a problem with.
But after all, he said, “It’s a program. We’ve all got to be together on the same page.”
Born in Argentina, Deras moved to Morgan Hill when he was in the sixth grade, and graduated from Live Oak in 2000. A member of the Acorns boys soccer team, Deras played wing in high school, although he later moved back to defense — either from the left side or the right — while competing at West Valley College.
It was during his first coaching stint for his younger brother’s YMCA team when Deras caught the bug, though. He still plays in an adult soccer league, of course, but getting the chance to be a role model for youth players is what has piqued Deras’ interest as a coach.
“I enjoy coaching and playing soccer,” said Deras, who is certified through the U.S. Soccer Federation and added there aren’t many differences he’s noticed in coaching between the club level and the high school level. “As I told (Athletic Director) Tod (Thatcher), this is what I was born to do.”
Deras said he stresses a game of ball possession on the field, and emphasizes physical fitness as well. During Tuesday’s practice — first practices were held Monday — potential players barely touched a soccer ball, and instead were conducting shuttle runs for a good portion of the practice.
“If you’re not fit, you’re not gonna play soccer,” Deras said.
The new head coach has less than four weeks before San Benito’s first game to whip his team into shape. The Balers are scheduled to visit Gonzales on Dec. 2 and Monte Vista Christian on Dec. 7, before returning home to host Soledad on Dec. 9.
It doesn’t leave much time, especially considering the program had 50 players trying out Tuesday, with 80 players total registered and signed up — the most amount of players to come out for the soccer program in at least seven years at the high school.
But Deras, confident and in control during Tuesday’s practice, appears poised for the challenge.
“There’s talent. Not polished, but there’s talent here,” he said. “Some of the kids have not been exposed to this type of training, but there’s a lot of talent here. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to coach here in Hollister.”
Look back for a season preview of the San Benito High boys soccer team.
