Bio

MONICA VARGAS graduated from Montgomery High School in 1990. She played on the girls’ basketball team where, as a junior, she was given the award for being the best offensive player on the team. As a senior, she was voted the MVP.

In 1990, Monica enrolled at Southwestern College where she worked with Head Coach Valerie Goodwin-Colbert. Continuing her pursuit of excellence, Monica became a human offensive machine—scoring 959 points in two years (which is second most in the history of
the SWC’s women’s basketball program), averaging 22.5 points per game (highest in SWC’s history) and scoring 37 points in a single game (tied for second in SWC’s history). Her offensive prowess helped the team win two Pacific Coast Conference Championships, and
she was selected both years to the All-Conference Team.

Monica was offered a full-ride athletic scholarship at University of California, Riverside and attended the university from 1992 to 1995. She played on the women’s basketball team and was one of the highest scorers on the team. In her second year, she was named Best
Defensive Player. Monica graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Spanish. 

Monica came home, married and became a mother. Also, she attended San Diego State University and earned a Master’s of Arts Degree in Spanish literature. For the next six years she taught Spanish classes at San Diego State and at the University of California, San Diego. Then she and her family moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, where she participated in a Spanish linguistics program and worked on a degree in political science. She also taught a variety of general education courses and worked in a religious-oriented program for troubled women and children. In her spare time, she coached basketball at her daughters’ school where the team won championships and several league titles. When her oldest daughter turned 12, she and her husband decided to return to the states.

Monica is very proud of her two daughters. They are both involved in high-level volleyball competition. Valeria, who is now 16 years old, loves indoor volleyball and school. She is considered one of the top indoor players in the country. Also, she is very excited about being offered a summer internship at Stanford Law School. At 12 years old, her youngest daughter, Ivanna, is considered her age group’s number one beach volleyball player in the State of California. Still in middle school, numerous Division I coaches are already showing interest in her.

Monica’s best memories of Southwestern are definitely the practices, her coach, Valerie Goodwin-Colbert, and her teammates and the wonderful and “fun” experiences they shared together.

Congratulations Monica Vargas for your outstanding achievements as a student-athlete. It is a distinct honor to induct you into the Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2019.