Rebecca Gonzalez has been named the new head coach for girls soccer at Bethlehem Catholic High School.

Gonzalez was an assistant to Chris Bastidas, who will be the new head coach for boys soccer at Whitehall High School.

Gonzalez said, "Chris officially accepted the Whitehall position, and at that time, Bethlehem Catholic asked me if I was willing to step in to the head coaching position before they opened it up to anybody. I felt more honored than anything."

Gonzalez had actually interviewed for the head coaching job two years ago, but was offered the assistant position, which included coaching junior varsity.

"It wasn't the right time for me, but I was really excited to get in there and help. Now, I have more experience, and even still, I have Chris," said Gonzalez.

Bastidas will continue at Becahi as a physical education teacher. Gonzalez, who recently married and will go by the last name, Rivera, is a math teacher at Notre Dame Elementary School.

Sarah Kroph, a soccer camp coach at Bastidas Soccer Academy, will assist Gonzalez.

Regarding the not-so-distant future, Gonzalez said, "My whole mindset has to change [from being a junior varsity coach]. Now the goal is to win and get into districts. I started a year-round program, so right now, we're concentrating on getting fit, so then we can go right into soccer."