Louie Gonzalez

Louie Gonzalez
JRU Heavy Bombers
PositionHead coach
LeagueNCAA
Personal information
NationalityFilipino
Career information
CollegeLetran
Coaching career1999–present
Career history
As coach:
1998–2001Letran (assistant)
2007–2010FEU (assistant)
2012–2014GlobalPort Batang Pier (assistant)
2014–2015Kia Sorento (assistant)
2015Letran (assistant)
2016–2018De La Salle (assistant)
2018De La Salle
2019–presentJRU
2020–2021Muntinlupa Cagers
Career highlights and awards
As assistant coach:

Jose Luis "Louie" Gonzalez[1] (sometimes misspelled as Louie Gonzales)[2] is a former collegiate basketball player who currently serves as the head coach of the JRU Heavy Bombers.[3]

Coaching career

Early career

Gonzalez, a Letran alumnus, son of a former La Salle Green Hills Greenies Tanny Gonzalez, worked with Binky Favis in the late 1990s. He's a part of Letran championship run at 1999.[4]

After his stint at Letran, he coached at British School Manila and then became part of Glenn Capacio's coaching staff at FEU Tamaraws from 2007 to 2010. He joined Globalport Batang Pier, and reunited again with Capacio. When Pido Jarencio took over, Gonzalez left for Kia Sorento in 2014.[4]

In 2015, Gonzalez, returned to Letran, with Ayo, a former player of the 1999 team, was coaching, and Capacio also joined. They won the 2015 title. The three later moved to La Salle, and also win a championship.[4]

De La Salle Green Archers

When Ayo left for UST, he was appointed to head coach the De La Salle Green Archers with Siot Tanquingcen and Capacio as his assistants,[4] but fired after a lackluster performance.[5] He was replaced by Gian Nazario.[6]

JRU Heavy Bombers

He was hired by the JRU Heavy Bombers, replacing Vergel Meneses.[7][8][9] He also served as a head coach to Muntinlupa Cagers.[10] In JRU, Gonzalez coached the Heavy Bombers to a 7th place finish in NCAA Season 95 (2019),[11] then a last placed finish with only one win in pandemic-shortened Season 97 (2022).[12] In Season 98 (2022), Gonzalez had to deal with his player John Amores going on a punching spree against Benilde. Amores was cut from the team, but Gonzalez expected him to return on the next season. JRU finished better this season, tied for 6th with 7 wins. [13]

In Season 99 (2023), Gonzalez was suspended for being ejected in their game against Benilde.[14] JRU finished with 10 wins, its best finish under Gonzalez, only being eliminated on their final elimination round game.[15] The Heavy Bombers regressed in Season 100 (2024), finishing last place with 4 wins,[16] and saw Gonzalez being suspended anew for confronting game officials.[17]

Coaching record

Collegiate

Season Team Elimination round Playoffs
GP W L PCT Finish GP W L PCT Results
2018 DLSU 14 8 6 .571 5th 1 0 1 .000 4th seed playoff
2019 JRU 18 5 13 .278 8th — — — — Eliminated
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 9 1 8 .111 10th — — — — Eliminated
2022 18 7 11 .389 9th — — — — Eliminated
2023 18 10 8 .556 6th — — — — Eliminated
2024 18 4 14 .222 10th — — — — Eliminated
Totals 95 35 60 .368 — 1 0 1 .000 0 championships

References

  1. ^ "JRU Heavy Bombers beef up lineup with Negrense prospects Martinez, Sealey". Spin.ph. March 25, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Villar, Joey (November 13, 2023). "JRU coach returns as Bombers, Generals collide in crucial game". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Payo, Jasmine (April 20, 2019). "JRU taps former La Salle coach Louie Gonzalez". RAPPLER. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Li, Matthew (January 2, 2018). "Who is Louie Gonzalez?". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Olivares, Rick (December 14, 2018). "Sources: La Salle to fire coach Louie Gonzales as part of major overhaul". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  6. ^ Riego, Norman (May 5, 2019). "La Salle's new head coach has long been a mentor to Aljun Melecio". Rappler.
  7. ^ "Gonzalez in, Meneses out as Heavy Bombers coach". philstar.com. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Li, Matthew (April 20, 2019). "JRU taps Louie Gonzalez as head coach". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Gonzalez, ex-DLSU coach, tapped by JRU". ESPN.com. April 20, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "Louie Gonzalez appointed as Muntinlupa coach in bid to return to MPBL contention". Spin.ph. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Lagman, Maxine Louise (October 18, 2019). "JRU closes NCAA campaign with win over Arellano". BurnSports.Ph. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Justin Arana dominates with 18 points and 29 rebounds as Arellano holds off JRU to book play-in spot | NCAA Philippines". NCAA. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "JRU coach says Amores may return next season". Manila Standard. November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Martin, Vito (November 11, 2023). "NCAA 99: JRU vents ire on hapless Letran, remains at solo fifth". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "NCAA: Mapua sends JRU home as Final Four cast now complete | NCAA Philippines". NCAA. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "EAC ends season with win vs JRU". The Manila Times. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "NCAA upholds suspensions for Letran's Estrada, JRU coach Gonzalez". Spin.ph. Retrieved October 22, 2024.