Athletic Department Profiles: Meet Defensive Coordinator, Jerry Dominguez
By Mike Pilosof
Photo by Adam Shrimplin
Garden City, KS-It's two days before the biggest game of the season against No. 4 Hutchinson, and defensive coordinator Jerry Dominguez is fired up. Of course, if you ever find yourself at a Broncbuster football practice, there really isn't a day where the veteran coach isn't in your face.
"He's that way by nature," Head Coach Tom Minnick said. "He's so passionate about what he does. And the guys respect him."
So, what was Dominguez so heated about? Well, with two early-season losses to Snow and Independence, Garden City's shot at a trip to its' third National Championship Game in the past four years rested on a showdown with the Blue Dragons, a team labeled as arguably the most talented in Junior College football. Even Minnick was more on edge than usual.
"You're the defending (expletive) champions," Minnick told his team following practice. "This is your (expletive) stadium and your (expletive) town.
Dominguez wasn't going to be one upped.
"Men, you're a better football team," he shouted. "Make sure you stay (expletive) hydrated this week and get plenty of (expletive) rest. You've got this."
Compare the two men, and you'll find stark differences. Even when Minnick was swearing, it didn't quite have Dominguez's vibrato. And that's okay. Those contrasting styles are why the relationship has worked for nearly two decades. It's why Minnick has entrusted his defenses in Dominguez's hands.
"He's one of the best defensive minds in the game," Minnick added.
When Arizona Western folded its football program following the 2018 season, Dominguez was uncertain about his future. He had spent the previous 14 years building the Matadors' defense into one of the best in the country. But a move to Garden City with Minnick, who shocked the Junior-College landscape when he was announced as the new Broncbusters' skipper, wasn't a forgone conclusion.
"I had to do some convincing with Jerry," Minnick explained.
Dominguez eventually came around, joining Minnick's staff in the spring. Six months later, he was the driving force behind Garden City's heart-stopping 20-19 victory over Hutchinson, a game in which his defense limited the high-powered Blue Dragons to just 179 total yards while forcing three backbreaking turnovers.
"That win was about our entire staff," Minnick said postgame. "But Jerry did an incredible job."
Before travelling east, Dominguez built a terrorizing defense at Arizona Western, one that helped the Matadors land in the National Championship Game in 2011, 2016 and 2017. In 2016, his unit allowed the second fewest yards in the nation behind Garden City while forcing 45 turnovers. That same year, he coached the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year and the Student Athlete of the Year in Patrick Macon. In all, during his 14 seasons with the Matadors, his defenses pitched 14 shutouts.
He also tutored some pretty big names like defensive end Randy Gregory, who became Dominguez's highest draft pick as a second rounder in 2015. It was part of a contingent of more than 60 players who went on to play at Division-I programs.
Before arriving in Yuma, Dominguez spent six years as an assistant at Division-II Northern State University. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Bethany as a secondary coach and special-teams coordinator in 1997.
But Dominguez's journey to the coaching ranks was never a straight line. He was the first in his family to be born in the United States. His parents, Antonio and Martha, are from Mexico and worked in the fields in California. Neither finished high school. And his early playing career was marred by off-the-field trouble that had him in some hot water his junior year. But that's when Dominguez began playing football.
"I can honestly say that football saved my life," he said.
With a new lease on life, Dominguez became a star at Aptos High School in Aptos, CA. He then made his way to Bethany College, where the Swedes won a pair of conference titles and qualified for the NAIA playoffs twice. After school, he landed his first coaching gig while starting a family. He's married to his wife, Rigel and haa four children: Maisey Joi, Melaya Evelia, Jazz and Lenny.
Here's a recent Q&A with Dominguez
1.How long have you been at Garden City Community College
Going into my second season. Started in Jan of 2019
2. How did you get the job?
Coach Minnick brought me over from AWC
3. Most satisfying part about your job?
Working with student-athletes and helping them grow, mature and move on to universities.
4. Person you look up to the most and why?
My parents, because of their work ethic.
5. Favorite movie?
Forrest Gump
6. What type of music do you listen to?
R&B and Hip Hop
7. Something most people don't know about you...
Spanish was my first language.
8. What's the best part or most challenge aspect of working in Athletics?
Love it all, the recruiting, teaching, bonding, learning, sharing and growing with my student-athletes.