Cruz Steps Down as Men's Soccer Coach

EVERETT, Wash - After four seasons, Erik Cruz is stepping down as the men's head soccer coach at Everett CC.  Coach Cruz became the all-time winningest men's soccer coach for the Trojan program last season when he eclipsed the 36 win mark.  Cruz led the Trojans to the playoffs the last three seasons including a trip to the quarterfinals in 2019 where the team came up just short in an epic penalty kick shootout that lasted 13 rounds.

His 2019 team won 13 matches, breaking the previous record of 12 wins that was set the year before.  Numerous players have gone on to compete at the 4 year level out of Erik's program and 12 players earned all region honors, capped by Mamadi Sarr who won the North Region MVP in 2019.  In the 43-year program history, several other records have been broken under Coach Cruz's tenure including: goals scored in a season (Aaron Byrne with 16 in 2017), assists in a season (Manuel Segura with 10 in 2019), save percentage (Drexel Cardona at .818 in 2017), career saves (Cameron Beardsley with 123 in 2018-2019) career goals (Aaron Byrne with 26 in 2017-2018), and team goals scored in a single season (49 in 2017 and 49 in 2018).

Prior to his head coaching role with the men's program, Erik served as an assistant on the EvCC Trojan's women's team which won the NWAACC championship in 2014. The Marysville native played collegiately for the Trojans in 2007 and 2008 and was one of 3 current head coaches on the staff that are Everett CC alumni.  Coach Cruz was named the North Region Co-Coach of the Year in 2019.   

Taking over the program this spring and co-head coaching will be current men's assistant coach Winfred Smith, and current head women's coach Rafael Marins.  Both coaches bring a wealth of knowledge to the game and are eager to see this year's team compete for a North Region Title.   

Fall training begins on October 12^th and the first game of the season is set for March 7^th against South Puget Sound CC in Lacey, WA.