Morristown, N.J. – At Saint Elizabeth University, we have some of the most talented Athletics staff in the country. We would like to share some insight behind the way our coaches think, and provide some background as to how they got into the position they are today. Next is our head men's and women's soccer coach, Chris Garcia.
 
What is your background as a player?
 
"I started in a team called PASCO soccer club in Wayne, N.J. Then I played for the New York Red Bulls Academy from U-15 to U-18 and then got recruited for Seton Hall University and played all my four years there."
 
Explain how you became involved in soccer, and how/why did you fall in love with the game? Do you have any specific memories that made you appreciate the game? What is your favorite memory as a player?
 
"I was brought into soccer from birth. My family lives and breathes soccer. I started playing when I was four years old. I didn't really fall in love with it until maybe when I was 10 or 11. I fell in love with it after the 2002 World Cup. Another reason that made me fall in love with the sport was my role model, Cristiano Ronaldo, who I've been a fan of since 2003. I wanted to imitate him in everything. I wanted to imitate him on how he played, how he wore his socks, imitate his hairstyles and wear the same cleats he did – absolutely everything lol. I think my favorite memories of playing were when I was with the New York Red Bulls Academy because we were treated as professional soccer players at an early age. The New York Red Bulls Academy paid for our flights, hotels, food, gave us the same gear that the pros would wear, etc. We used to play other MLS academies and at the U-16 & U-18 level, we were ranked #1 in the country."
 
When did you decide to get into coaching and why?
 
"After Seton Hall, I tried to go professional but it never really worked out. So coaching kind of fell into my lap sort of in a way. I was offered the head boys varsity soccer coach position in 2014 at one of my old high schools (Secaucus High School) because the head coach was leaving to another public high school. I took the job because I wanted to stay in the sport as much as possible. So I gave it a shot. My first year as a head coach, we reached the high school sectional final. It was the first time in history that the boys' soccer program reached the sectional final. After that moment and year, I fell in love with coaching and automatically knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life." 
 
What made you choose Saint Elizabeth? What is special about SEU?
 
"Before Saint Elizabeth University, I was a volunteer assistant coach at Seton Hall University for the Men's and Women's Soccer programs. I had the privilege to work under Coach Gerson Echeverry (Seton Hall Men's Soccer Coach at the time) and Coach Richard Stainton (Seton Hall Women's Soccer Coach at the time). When Coach Stainton left the position at Seton Hall, he came to Saint Elizabeth to become the women's head soccer coach. He notified me that the head men's soccer coach position was open, and that if I was interested, I should apply. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to take the next step as a head coach at a NCAA Division III institution. What's special about SEU is the culture and diversity that surrounds it. I truly believe we do have a faculty and staff that are 100% dedicated to our students and student-athletes."
 
Do you have any mentors? Who are they and what is their background? How did they help you in your career and as a person?
 
"My first mentor I would say is my family. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am or the person I am today. They have shaped and helped me throughout my whole life and career. I owe them everything."
"My other mentors would be Coach Stainton, Coach Echeverry and Coach Charles Voorhees. I had the privilege to work with Coach Stainton (under him at Seton Hall University and as a work colleague at Saint Elizabeth University), who is now an assistant coach at Georgetown University. He taught me about the core values of not only being a great coach, but also a great person. He showed me not only things on the field but also outside of the field. I am grateful to call him a friend."
 
"I am very grateful to have been coached as a player and work under Coach Echeverry, who is now coaching at the USL Championship level for Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. I learned many tactics, strategies and received a lot of advice from Coach Echeverry when I worked under him as a volunteer coach and from when I played under him at Seton Hall. Coach Echeverry gave me my first coaching opportunity in the college game at the Division I level. We still communicate with each other from time to time to see how we are doing."
 
"Coach Voorhees is the athletic director and head football coach at Secaucus High School. He was the one who gave me the opportunity to be a head coach for the first time in my career, and for that I am grateful. Since my first day, he has given me advice that I still take with me all the time. He still keeps giving me advice every time we see each other."
 
What is the most rewarding part of being a coach?
 
"I think the most rewarding and favorite part about being a coach is seeing your players improve not only on the field but off the field. Coaching is not only about the x's and o's. It's also about coaching them in their daily life. As the famous Coach John Wooden said, "A good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life."