Girls soccer: Highland picks former Elyria Catholic coach Jose Perez

The Highland girls soccer team has found its next coach in former Elyria Catholic boss Jose Perez. Perez, 29, is coming off a 10-6-2 season with the Panthers, the program's first winning season since going 9-5-1 in 2020. Perez embraces what he called "an important challenge and a huge responsibility" of taking over the Hornets, who went 56-5-5 and won three district titles in as many seasons under Bill Zufall. Perez is ready to continue those high standards after being approved by the Highland Board of Education. "Our goal is clear, and we want to be at the top," Perez said. "Highland wants to be at the top, and we will prepare ourselves for it. I look forward to talking with the girls." While taking over the Hornets will be a new opportunity for Perez, the Medina resident already has familiarity with the community through operating his One Shot Soccer Academy. Perez has worked with Highland players from the youth level on up at the Medina-based training facility. In addition to coaching Elyria Catholic the past three seasons, where the Panthers tallied a 20-29-5 record, Perez previously was an assistant boys coach at Mantua Crestwood and has more than eight years experience as a club coach, first at Upper 90 Football Club and now with Cuyahoga Valley Soccer Academy. "I'm a big fan of Highland," Perez said. "I can tell you that I identify myself with Highland. We share the same passion and love for the game. I'm super happy and excited to have the opportunity to represent Highland High School." Perez is a native of Nayarit in Western Mexico, where he began playing professionally at 13 years old. He also played collegiately at the Universidad Autonoma de Nayarit, where he graduated with a degree in physical education. Perez takes over a team that was upset by Sunbury Big Walnut 3-2 in double overtime in the Division II, Region 7 semifinals last fall. Prior to that, the Hornets reached their first state final in D-III, when Highland went 21-2-1, set the program record for wins and embarked on a 22-game unbeaten streak before losing 1-0 to Bay on a goal by Maya Holmes with 12 seconds left. In 2023, Highland won its first district title, beating Avon 4-2. Maintaining the standard won't be easy for Highland after graduating seven starters, including Gazette MVPs Vanessa Zufall (2024) and Grace Shondel (2025) and All-Gazette selections Avalynn Price and Hailey Trzaska. The Hornets are set to return starters Jordyn Caples, Penny Dykeman, Katie Wetzel — all incoming seniors — and Amelia Price, who saw time as a starter as a freshman. Perez plans to deploy a strategy based on possession and movement. "You will see a team that cares about the ball, understands the game and knows what the game plan is," Perez said. "You will see a team that is moving the ball from one side to the other side, taking care of the ball and being very, very aggressive moving forward while staying very organized when we are defending." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.