The 2009 season marks Pepe Aragon's 12^th year as head coach for the Herkimer County Community College men's soccer program. Aragon has led the Generals to 11 consecutive Region III championships, four National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national championships, three second place national finishes, three third place national finishes and one National fourth place finish.

During his tenure at Herkimer he has amassed an overall record of 203-19-11 and has been named Adidas/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year four times (1999, 2000, 2005, 2008), Region III Coach of the Year (1999, 2005) and Mountain Valley Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2005). He has coached 40 NSCAA and NJCAA All-Americans and five NSCAA National Players of the Year. He currently serves as Secretary of the NJCAA Men's Soccer Association and is President of the Region III Men's Soccer Association.

In 2000, Aragon was named to the NJCAA All-Century Team along with former U.S. National Team coach and current LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena and MLS goal keeper Zach Thorton. In 2002, he captained the Central Empire State Open men's soccer team to a gold medal at SUNY Cortland.  In 2007, he was recognized by the Blind Men and Criers, an organization of referees and coaches in Syracuse, NY, with the Lew Andreas Award for outstanding contributions and service to his community. In 2008, Aragon received the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.  Coach Aragon was inducted as a player into the 2008 NJCAA National Soccer Hall of Fame.  He received his award in Dallas, Texas at the NJCAA Division III National Final Four Banquet Friday, November 7^th. 

A native of Binghamton, NY, Aragon was a high school NSCAA All-American at Binghamton High School in 1989. He then attended Herkimer CCC where he was a NSCAA and NJCAA All-American as a freshman and sophomore and led the Generals to a national third-place finish his sophomore year. Aragon received an athletic scholarship to NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University where he was a two-time All- Mid-American Conference selection and helped lead the Falcons to their first NCAA tournament appearance in over 20 years.

After graduating from college, Aragon signed a professional contract with the Canton Invaders of the National Professional Soccer League where he played one season. He then signed a contract the following year with the Cleveland Caps of the United States Inter-Regional Soccer League (U.S.I.S.L.) before accepting the head coaching position at Herkimer in 1998. Aragon currently holds a NSCAA national coaching license.

Coach Aragon teaches full time at Herkimer CCC and was promoted in the fall of 2009 from instructor of Health and Physical Education to Associate Professor. He holds an A.S. in Physical Education from Herkimer County Community College, a B.S. in Physical Education from Bowling Green State University and a M.S. in Health Education from SUNY Cortland. Coach Aragon resides in New Hartford with his wife Anastacia, daughter Natalia (5) and son Pepe (3).

Jason Palkovic enters his 6^th season as an Assistant/Goalkeeping Coach. He began as assistant coach for the Generals in 2004. He has helped lead the Generals to 2 National Championships in 2005 & 2008. Palkovic holds the State Goalkeeping & Advanced Regional Diplomas from the NSCAA.

Palkovic was a standout at Palmyra Area High School, near Hershey, PA, where he held the high school's record for total points in a season. During his time at Palmyra Area High School he received numerous accolades. He was named to the Patriot News Big 11, Lebanon Daily News 1^st team, MVP, 1^st team Mid-Penn All-Star, Central Penn All-Star, and led his team in goals & assists his senior year. He played soccer in the Greater Pittsburgh Outdoor Premier League, where he won the golden boot for top goal scorer, for two years before moving on to coach the Rome Free Academy Varsity Girls soccer team (1999 and 2000) and the Westmoreland-Oriskany Boy's Varsity soccer team (2001). He also helped in the forming of the local soccer club the Rising Stars. With the Rising Stars he was Director of Coach & Player Development.

Palkovic holds an A.A.S. degree from Herkimer County Community College, and in addition to his coaching duties he is employed full-time as a Technical Assistant in the College's Athletic Department.

Jose Lopez will impart on his inaugural season as an assistant coach for the men's soccer team.  Lopez, a graduate of Herkimer County Community College, was a goalkeeper and played soccer for Perry Nizzi during the 1997 and 1998 school years.  Lopez help lead the 1997 Herkimer Generals to a 2nd place finish in the national championship tournament, a game which was decided in 4 OT's. 

Lopez resides in Frankfort, NY

Santhiago DeVicente will join the 2009 Herkimer Generals as an assistant coach.  DeVicente was a member of the 2008 National Championship team. He helped lead the Generals past Triton College in a 2-1 thrilling victory.