Former Pro Soccer Player is New Head Coach at East High

Javier Hernandez has been appointed as the new Head Coach at the Boys Varsity Soccer Team at East Aurora High School. Hernandez attended Bardwell Elementary School and Waldo Middle School prior to graduating from East Aurora High School in 1986. He went on to obtain a Bachelors of Arts in Business from National Polytechnic Institute before beginning his professional soccer career.

“I’ve waited for this opportunity and challenge for over 20 years. I’m so excited that I have not been able to sleep.”” said Hernandez.

A former award-winning professional soccer player, Hernandez played for the Altante F.C. Postros Marte and the F.C. Queretaro of Queretaro, Mexico in the Mexican Football Federation from 1993-1996.

Upon returning to area, Hernandez became the Head Coach/Trainer of the Naperville Lightning Soccer Club from 1996-1998. During his tenure, the Naperville Lightning won the Midwest Cup Championship, the Nike Classic Cup, the Chicago Fire Fest Championship, and the Boys Oswego Classic Championship.

“My dad organized the community team in 1985 that would later grow into the first soccer team for East Aurora High School,” said Hernandez. “Soccer is a natural part of me.”

Hernandez built upon his father’s community legacy by establishing his own soccer academy in 1999. For the last 13 years, the Jambuc Soccer Academy has been recognized as one of the leading development programs in the western suburbs. In the academy, Hernandez is responsible for 16 youth teams and 3 adult teams.

“I am most proud of our students that we have helped to received scholarships to college and those who went on to achieve their dreams by becoming professional soccer players,” said Coach Hernandez.

Most recently, three more of Hernandez’s players received nearly full scholarships to college, and he currently has former students who are now professional soccer players in four different countries and three continents.

He plans to bring those same collegiate connections to the East Aurora Tomcats, most of who has known since they were in elementary and middle school.

“My first rule to the students is to keep their grades up because they can’t get into college without the academics,” said Hernandez who plans to establish study groups and tutoring opportunities that will focus on academic success first.

The rest of the rules are all about respect, teamwork, tradition, and hard work. These are fundamentals that Hernandez says the varsity team has proven to have already and that he is sure will continue.

“I’ve been watching them for two years consistently. At minimum, they will achieve that same level of success and build upon it to accomplish even more” said Hernandez who plans to implement his professional grade training into the program.

“The Tomcats have what it takes to be the state champs.”