City College celebrated an excellent year in academic and athletic achievement with three teams earning the 3C2A Scholar Team award for the 2023-2024 season. The teams included women’s water polo, men’s soccer and women’s soccer.
All three teams were the highest academic team achievement given annually by the 3C2A. This award recognizes teams whose athletes maintain a GPA above 3.0 while excelling in their sports.
Among these accomplishments, the leadership of Alex Zermeno, head coach for both men’s and women’s soccer teams helped them get there. In the 2023-2024 season, eleven men and fourteen women from City College’s soccer teams achieved GPAs above 3.5.
The Vaqueros’ soccer teams have been nominated for the award again for the 2024-2025 season.
Zermeno has implemented strategies that have created a culture of academic and athletic excellence.
He attributes his teams’ success to their strong culture. To establish this foundation he begins each season with a comprehensive team meeting in the summer where non-negotiables, expectations, and standards are outlined.
“I think it all starts with culture . . . academics plays a big part in all three of those,” Zermeno said.
He says these discussions set the tone for the season.
Student-athletes on the men’s and women’s soccer team are required to complete a minimum of three hours of study hall per week. These standards of mandatory study hall hours are inspired by the need for similar or even increased hours at the four-year level.
Bi-weekly grade checks are also conducted with more frequent checks during off-seasons due to time constraints. Players are informed that grades are closely linked to their athletic performance and those below a 3.0 GPA could lose playing time. The teams have support from the City College community along with academic counselor Joann Graham.
“[She’s] very good at letting us know when certain players need help academically,” Zermeno said.
Despite the teams’ busy schedules, with study halls available in the mornings or afternoons players can find a balance that works for them.
“There has to be a work-life balance, but their work is soccer . . . a balance between school, soccer and life,” Zermeno said.
Many players excel academically on the field and in their personal lives. Which allows for them to enjoy their time in Santa Barbara with friends and family.
Much of Zermeno’s coaching comes from advice he has received from other experienced coaches on campus. Their successful academic strategies have greatly influenced his approach.
“Being a new head coach on campus you know I wasn’t afraid to ask them ‘Hey how do you guys go about this?’” Zermeno said.
He credits the guidance from some of City College’s seasoned coaches, for women’s basketball, baseball and football, for shaping his approach to prioritizing academics within his teams.
During the 2023-2024 conference play the men’s soccer team advanced to the second round of the SoCal Regionals playoffs with an overall record of 10-7-5. While the women’s team reached the third round narrowly losing to Chaffey and finishing their season with a final record of 13-4-6. Building on this success both teams have continued to excel in the 24-25 season. Both the men’s team with an overall record of 12-7-3, and the women’s team with a record of 16-4-3, advanced to the second round of playoffs and claimed the Western State Conference championship this season.
“We have four pillars: family, focus, faith and finish. We want this team to be a family,” Zermeno said.
The pillars for success are emphasized in every practice and game fostering a sense of trust and commitment.
It is clear head coach Zermeno has found the formula for athletic and academic success. The result is a championship culture that propelled the men’s and women’s soccer teams to the Western State Conference championship and another nomination for 3C2A Scholar Team award, a testament to their hard work and determination.
