Bio

Raul Herrera was named Dallas College Richland head men's soccer coach in 2019, and has guided the Thunderducks to national prominence.

Through the 2025 season, Herrera has an overall coaching record of 101-9-5, with six National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national championships. His teams are 32-0-0 in Dallas Athletic Conference play. 

Herrera coached the Thunderducks to a 13-3-1 overall, 4-0-0 DAC record in 2025, finishing as the national runner-up for the second straight year. Richland fell in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw with Mohawk Valley Community College in the NJCAA Division III championship match. The Thunderducks won the NJCAA Division III South District title for a second straight year, beating Dallas College Mountain View 6-2. Herrera's 100th career victory came in the NJCAA Division III quarterfinals -- a 3-0 shutout of Joliet Junior College in Herkimer, New York. Five Thunderducks earned NJCAA Division III All-America awards, including three First Team selections in Alexis Cruz, Charles Chimezie and Victor Gomez. Dubbie Cannon, Jose Infante and Luc Van Der Kamp, Cruz and Chimezie were NJCAA All-Academic recipients. Cruz and Chimezie were College Sports Communicators Academic All-District winners.

In 2024, Richland went 14-3-3 overall, 4-0 in the DAC, advancing to the NJCAA Division III national championship game for the ninth straight year. The Thunderducks fell 2-1 in overtime to Mohawk Valley Community College in the title game. Richland beat Camden County College 3-2 in double overtime in the national semifinals. The Thunderducks defeated Mountain View 3-1 to capture the NJCAA Division III South District championship. Joseph Min and Emmanuel Carmona were NJCAA Division III First Team All-Americans. Jose Diaz and Enrique Alvarez were Second Team All-Americans. Richland earned NJCAA All-Academic Team award recognition after posting a 3.32 grade point average in the 2024-25 academic year.

In 2023, Herrera guided the Thunderducks to a sixth straight NJCAA Division III National Championship. Richland was 12-3-1 overall, 4-0 in the DAC. The Thunderducks beat Mohawk Valley Community College, 4-0, to win the title. Felipe Escorcia, Luis Vargas and Joseph Musungaie were named NJCAA Division III First Team All-Americans, while Min was a Second Team All-American. 

In 2022 under Herrera, Richland won its fifth consecutive NJCAA Division III national championship. The Thunderducks went 16-0-1, defeating Genesee Community College, 2-0, in the national championship game. Richland extended its unbeaten streak to 75 consecutive games, dating back to Sept. 25, 2018.

Herrera coached Richland to its fourth consecutive NJCAA Division III national title in 2021. The Thunderducks went 17-0-1, defeating Herkimer College, 2-0, in the national championship game. The Thunderducks won their last 17 games in the unbeaten season. 

Prior to becoming the Thunderducks' head coach, Herrera worked as an assistant coach for Sean Worley, a Richland legend and NJCAA Hall of Fame member. As an assistant, Herrera was a part of a coaching staff that guided the Thunderducks to a national championship in 2016. Herrera was an assistant coach at Richland from 2011-19.

Before beginning his coaching career at Richland, he played professionally in Mexico for two years. Herrera played two years at NCAA Division II powerhouse Midwestern State University. Under head coach Doug Elder, Herrera was a star goalkeeper. In 2009, he earned All-America honors, while leading the nation in goals against average (0.304). In his senior year, he became the first Mustang in the program’s history to receive First Team All-American honors in consecutive seasons. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four that year, but their undefeated season ended with a 2-1 loss in the national semifinal to Rollins College.

Prior to Herrera’s playing days at Midwestern State, he led Richland College to the NJCAA National Championship in 2006, while simultaneously earning National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America honors.

Herrera was a three-year starter on the varsity team at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, and was voted City of Richardson Player of the Year his senior year.

Herrera earned his associate degree at Richland College in 2007, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and kinesiology from Midwestern State in 2009. In 2018, he earned his master's degree in sports administration from Midwestern State. Herrera currently holds a National C coaching license.

Herrera has been a goalie coach at the renowned FC Dallas Academy, in addition to coaching at Richland. Richard Sanchez, Jesse Gonzalez, Eduardo Cortes, Carlos Aviles, and Antonio Carrera are just a few of the players he helped develop while at FC Dallas.