SUCCESSFUL. Ron Rivera, strategist for the Washington Football Team, has twice been Coach of the Year in the NFL / John McDonnell-The Washington Post
In American sports, Hispanics have not only shined as active athletes. From one side of the stage, countless figures have transcended as mentors to propel their pupils to unsuspected levels.
From Major League Baseball, through the NFL, NBA basketball and MLS, Latinos have managed to gain important positions for the development of new generations.
This group of coaches boasts of having become such important pieces that in many cases they raised champion trophies. There are also others who shone enough to receive awards related to their work and thus show that there is also talent in the region to lead projects.
Meanwhile, the replacement generation is also preparing to take on positions that once painstakingly obtained proper names with Latin blood.
Felipe Alou (MLB)
The Dominican is listed as the first Latino to be named Manager of the Year. It was in 1994 when the Dominican, at the time leader of the Montreal Expos (a franchise that moved to Washington DC in 2005 and is now known as the Nationals) led the Canadian team by establishing himself as the leader in the East division of the National League with a 74-40 record. Within the subjectivity of everything that is linked to debates of this type, Alou is in the discourse of many the greatest Latin manager to have said himself present in big top baseball.
Oswaldo Guillén (MLB)
First Latino manager to win the World Series. The Venezuelan, who as a player shone in the Chicago White Sox uniform, led the White Legs to the title in the 2005 season. Covered in a style of play similar to that developed in the Caribbean, with speed as a fundamental piece, the former shortstop led his team to their first championship in 88 years. After his tour of the Windy City, Guillén was hired by the Miami Marlins to later become an MLB analyst for ESPN.
Alex Cora (MLB)
Following Guillen’s achievement, Cora also entered the history books by leading the Boston Red Sox troop in 2018 to the title. The Puerto Rican did not give up during the playoffs of that season, as the red-legged players only lost in three games over three series. Cora came to the Massachusetts squad from Houston, where with the Astros he served as bench coach for the 2017 title.
Tom Flores (NFL)
Although born in California, the Mexican roots of the former NFL player are still latent today, so he does not hide from his Hispanic condition. Renowned quarterback, he had in his later work as a coach the success he always dreamed of; however, the best came this year, when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ron Rivera (NFL)
Still active, Rivera (the son of Puerto Ricans) boasts of having Latino blood even though he was born in the United States. The current coach of the Washington team knows what it is to stand out as a mentor, appearing twice as the best of the year when he was in charge of the Carolina Panthers, the team with which he reached the Super Bowl. Rivera, who is still tied to the franchise in the American capital with the mission of leading to the playoffs.
Jack Del Rio (NFL)
Another of the Hispanic characters who has done the most in American football as a manager has been this son of a Mexican immigrant who has been in charge of organizations such as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders, saying he was present in the postseason.
Gerardo Martino (MLS)
In terms of soccer, Argentina found in the MLS a special place to wave its flag. One of the main characters who made the name of the nation resound in North American football was Gerardo Martino, who in 2018 was the head of that Atlanta United whose offensive power allowed them to become champions of the local cup. The albiceleste arrived at the MLS after being the brain behind projects both in Barcelona in Spain and in the national team.
Oscar Pareja (MLS)
The Colombian, with almost 10 years of experience on the US benches, claims to be the first Latino to receive the Coach of the Year award. In 2016, Pareja managed Dallas FC, a club with which he won two trophies in that campaign: the Supporters Shield and the Lamar Hunt Open Cup. Today, the New Granada is in charge of Orlando City.
Greivis Vasquez (NBA)
In NBA basketball, the Latino presence on the benches is counted. In the bowels of the league, the Venezuelan Greivis Vásquez, just the third basketball player from his country to say present in the championship, managed to develop skills to take mentoring to another level. In 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans, an organization with which he played for two seasons, made him an assistant coach for the Erie BayHawk, his team in the G-League. Vásquez’s internship lasted a year, but it opened the doors to a new stage in his career after injuries that gradually took him off the court.
Pablo Prigioni (NBA)
In addition to the case of Vásquez, Pablo Prigioni appears, a former player, who has been making his way into the leadership area. The Argentine will add his second year as a technical assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2021-2022 harvest. The goal of the southerner is none other than to gain enough experience to eventually take over a franchise that gives him the opportunity. Although his team does not start from the analysis as one of the main teams in the tough Western Conference, his walk allows him to continue winning in the leadership arena.
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