With an intense passion for soccer and a deep devotion to Dominican, Jon Delano has the best of both worlds as the director for both the men’s and women’s programs on the picturesque San Rafael campus.
After coaching the women’s soccer program at Dominican for three seasons, Delano also took over duties as the men’s head coach in 2009, Dominican’s first season in the Pacific West Conference as it transitioned into NCAA Division II competition.
As a member of the NAIA California Pacific Conference, Delano’s women’s soccer team landed the conference title in 2007 and, in 2008, earned numerous accolades from the CalPac including Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Defender of the Year. That year, six Penguins were named to the all-conference first team, two to the second team and two received Honorable Mention. Junior Eleanna Mendez earned a spot on the NAIA All-American Team, the first women's soccer player in the program's history to earn such an honor. In 2007 and 2008, Delano was named the CalPac's Coach of the Year. Since the transition to NCAA Division II and The PacWest, Delano has developed Capital One Academic NCAA Division II All-American® Pedro Guevara (2012), NSCAA All West Region picks Katie Brown (2009) and Julianna Bratsberg (2012), PacWest Freshman of the Year Lauren Gollnick (2012), and numerous other conference selections.
Delano was a three-sport star (soccer, basketball, and golf) at Maria Carrillo High School and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s All Empire Player of the Year in soccer his senior year. He went on to play soccer at Santa Rosa Junior College where he was team captain his freshman year and led the Bear Cubs to back-to-back state Final Fours. He graduated with an AA degree, spent a year as assistant basketball coach at Maria Carrillo, then enrolled at Dominican to play soccer and basketball.
At Dominican, Delano was a standout on the soccer field and in the classroom. He submitted the winning essay for the McGowan Foundation Scholar award in Dominican’s School of International Business Management. After graduating in 2003, Delano started his career in coaching. He was first an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Dominican and coach for the Santa Rosa United Gold club team. Then Delano became head varsity boys soccer coach at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa where, in 2005, he was named Sonoma County All-Empire Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 17-2-1 record and a No. 14 national ranking. Delano then returned to Dominican to become the head women’s soccer coach. In 2007, Delano also served as head men's and women's golf coach. Currently, Delano currently coaches club soccer for Marin FC, where he has won numerous tournaments including the State Cup and Disney Showcase. At the club level, he has developed numerous future college players.
Delano, who is an avid college football and basketball fan and scratch golfer, is enrolled in MBA program at Dominican with a focus of Global Management.
