'Make sure we maximize these kids' potential': New Durfee strength coach shares expertise

Cabrinni Goncalves' journey to becoming a strength and conditioning coach started inside the weight room as a middle-schooler.

The Taunton native was the youngest and only one to attend such sessions. He wanted to prepare himself for the rigors of high school sports.

Throughout his teenage years and college life, Goncalves became a gym rat.

Now his hard work has paid off in a big way.

Goncalves was recently named the new strength and conditioning coach at B.M.C. Durfee High School, replacing the first and only coach Ed Matanes. The popular Hilltopper strength and conditioning coach stepped down at the end of July.

"I want to thank Mr. [Brad] Bustin for giving me this opportunity," Goncalves said. "It's a blessing and an honor to work here."

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Matanes said he's known Goncalves since he was in high school.

"Cabrinni is a great addition to the program," Matanes said. "There's no one else I'd rather hand the program off to than him."

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Goncalves said he started at Boston College, shadowing and working as an intern with the BC strength and conditioning coach to build a resume. His hope was to one day return to his alma mater in the Silver City as a strength and conditioning coach.

"That was the plan," he said.

An introduction to Durfee

During the Fourth of July holiday week, Goncalves began working with Matanes at Durfee.

"I was cool with Ed Matanes here," he said. "I started coming to Durfee to see how Eddie did stuff, because I was planning on becoming a strength and conditioning coach.

"Every chance I could get better, I would come over and see Eddie. Just with the way he ran the weight room, interacted with the kids, did different programs. He kept inviting me back, so I kept coming. I was building a relationship with the kids and working out."

So far, Goncalves has enjoyed the same success rate in his brief stint as Matanes did during his two years as a Hilltopper mentor. Boys soccer, field hockey, and the freshman football teams have yet to record a loss in the fall.

"It's great because those teams utilized the strength and conditioning program since Day One," he said. "I met with the soccer coach and the same thing with the field hockey team. I built a relationship with the coaches."

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Setting the standard

Goncalves was an exceptional football player, even as a youth. He and his Taunton Pop Warner teammates were the toast of the city after an undefeated campaign and its first-ever Hockomock Super Bowl championship in the program's 25-year history in 2006.

In high school, Goncalves caught a break when Taunton lost its starting running back for the season. He was brought up to fill the spot.

As a junior, Goncalves became a superstar on the gridiron. He rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 28 touchdowns to lead Taunton to an Old Colony League title. The Tigers shared the crown with Bridgewater-Raynham and Barnstable. A three-way coin flip negated Taunton a playoff berth.

Goncalves enjoyed a special moment in the season when the Tigers beat the Trojans for the first time in 19 years in a double-overtime thriller. He finished his high school career by rushing for 291 yards on 11 carries and four touchdowns in a Thanksgiving Day win over Coyle-Cassidy. He was later named Most Valuable Player for the second time.

"I started working out in Taunton when I was an eighth grader," Goncalves said. "Once you get into it, it becomes addictive. When you get to high school, you tell yourself  I have to size up and take care of my body in a certain way. You want to be locked in on the whole process. It's been the way I live my life ever since."

Goncalves moved on to play for the University of Maine Black Bears. He had four career interceptions at linebacker and averaged 71 tackles through three seasons. He graduated with a degree in communication and a minor in child human development.

Goncalves got a taste of the National Football League when he received a workout with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016. His agent also touched base with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Shortly after, Goncalves played arena football for the Vermont Bucks from Castleton, Vermont.

He helped lead them to a championship. Goncalves was going to try out for the Canadian Football League, but COVID-19 ruined that opportunity.

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Big goals at Durfee

Goncalves said each day, he wants to get better with his new job.

"It has been great," he said. "I want to continue to grow and learn in this profession. It's a world that is always changing, and more information coming to life. I try and stay focused and learn every day I'm in here."

Goncalves wants nothing more than winning programs at Durfee.

"Student-athletes, with me, come first," he said. "I love my job, but at the end of the day, I do this to make sure we maximize these kids' potential to the fullest."

Goncalves watched Matanes supervise many workouts inside the state-of-the-art fitness center at Luke Urban Field House. Now, the new mentor wants to try different methods of his own.

"I like teaching them some new stuff," Goncalves said. "A skipping technique to running sprints. Certain techniques and certain tricks. These kids are young and they don't know about that.

"The right distance off that first step, hand placement, and your arms are swinging. It's a whole other world when it comes to fitness and learning how to move in certain sports movements."

When asked what his message is to the kids when they enter the fitness center, Goncalves didn't hesitate.

"I will tell them you should be present and show up with the right mindset," he said. "No matter if you're going to class or you come into a weight room or game. The No. 1 thing is presentation."

How about if someone wants his advice?

"I'll tell kids to keep working," Goncalves said. "Life comes with a lot of adversity. I remember there was a time when I did not know if I was going to go to college. My future seemed a little foggy, but I just stuck with it no matter how bad it got or how dark it looked in the future."

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Ex-Taunton High star Cabrinni Goncalves is new Durfee strength coach