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Posted: May 18, 2018

Soka Names Eggleston New Men's Soccer Coach

Soka University of America Athletic Director Mike Moore has announced the hiring of Ian Eggleston as the Men's Soccer Head Coach after a national search. Eggleston was hired after former head coach Marine Cano resigned to return to his Alma mater, CSU Dominguez Hills as the Head Women's Soccer Coach.

"I am extremely happy and honored to welcome Ian Eggleston to our Soka Family," said Moore. "Ian has gained incredible experience throughout his career, and under his leadership will continue to build upon the program's foundation and develop our men's soccer team into a highly successful NAIA program. He is a proven recruiter, both nationally and internationally, and has a vast understanding of players and clubs throughout the Southern California area. He has had a successful and accomplished career at Cal State San Marcos, and has a great understanding of what it takes to win on a national level. Ian also brings extensive knowledge and appreciation for what it means to be a complete Student-Athlete."

Ian Eggleston

Eggleston joins Soka from CSU San Marcos, where he was the lead men's assistant since 2014. Having over 20 years of experience coaching men's soccer, primarily in Southern California, at the NCAA Division II, NAIA, Community College, High School and club levels, he has also spent the past 20 years working in education as a teacher, counselor, career counselor, principal and dean of students.

While at CSUSM, Eggleston helped the program record 24 wins over two seasons in the NAIA before transitioning to NCAA Division II and competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. CSUSM beat nationally ranked teams in four of Eggleston's years working with the team. He has also spent the last two seasons working with LA Galaxy San Diego's Elite and US Soccer Developmental Academy teams.

Eggleston grew up near Nottingham, England, where he played for Nottingham Forest Academy U/18s before being recruited to play at the University of Evansville, a nationally ranked NCAA Division I program in Indiana. At Evansville, Eggleston became the team's leading scorer, captain, and Most Valuable Player while playing as both a central midfielder and forward, helping the team to qualify for the NCAA DI tournament two of his four years. Post college he played semi-professionally for the Louisville Thoroughbreds in the USISL for one year, and then moved to California for his graduate studies. While completing his M.A. in Counseling and College Student Services at the University of San Diego, he was also the Assistant Men's Coach at Mesa College.

After completing his graduate work, Eggleston moved back to England to become the Dean of Students and Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach at Harlaxton College; an American study abroad program affiliated with the University of Evansville. In 2002, he returned to San Diego to become a founding teacher at High Tech High International (HTHI); a diverse, free, public charter school, where he taught Humanities for five years before becoming the school's principal. Eggleston also coached both boys and girls' soccer at HTHI while also working with local club soccer teams. In 2011, Ian and his wife Catherine moved to Carlsbad, California and opened their fitness studio, The Bar Method Carlsbad, which they still own and run today.

"I am extremely honored to become the new Head Men's Soccer Coach at Soka University of America," said Eggleston. "I'd like to thank Director of Athletics Mike Moore, Assistant Director of Athletics Erica Baldaray, and Dean of Students Hyon Moon for giving me this fantastic opportunity. I've followed Soka men's soccer closely since coaching against the team in 2013, and have always been drawn to the university and its mission of providing a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life. This fully resonates with all that I value about being a coach and educator. I really appreciate coach Cano and all the work he has done here since starting the soccer program, and hope to keep building on our successes both on and off the field. Everyone in the athletics, and the university as a whole, has been so welcoming already. I'm looking forward to getting to know our current and incoming Student-Athletes as soon as possible, and preparing for our 2018 season and beyond."