Herrera Honored as Dallas College Distinguished Employee Alumni

PHOTOS | RAUL HERRERA AWARD SPEECH 1 | RAUL HERRERA AWARD SPEECH 2

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas – Dallas College Richland head men's soccer coach Raul Herrera was honored at Dallas College's Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony Tuesday night at Dallas College Brookhaven.

Herrera was honored as the Distinguished Employee Alumni.

"What did Richland and Dallas College give me? It gave me the opportunity to be a winner," Herrera said from the award podium. "Obviously, on the field, we became champions, and it gave me some of the best friends I've ever had and always will be."

Herrera has coached the Thunderducks to six straight National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national championships. As an assistant coach at Richland, he was a member of the 2016 NJCAA Division III national championship. As a player, he became an NJCAA Division III All-American goalkeeper in helping the Thunderducks capture the 2006 national championship.

Following his two years at Richland, Herrera became a two-time First Team All-American at Midwestern State University, helping the Mustangs reach the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2009. He went on to play professionally in Mexico for two years before becoming a coach.

Dallas College paved the way for Herrera's success.

"It gave me an opportunity to get my education, and go on to Midwestern to get a scholarship, and become a winner off the field," Herrera said. "That's what we're trying to do here. We love the six straight national championships, we love the rings. We love that we won the last Richland College national championship and the first Dallas College championship in any sport. But what I'm more proud of is what we accomplish for the student-athletes."

Herrera has coached over 100 players who've went on to compete at four-year schools.

"Like my parents always wanted us to do better than them, I want my student-athletes to do better than me," Herrera said. "That's our goal every day, and I think that's what we're all trying to do here."