Victor Santa Cruz (1990)

Head football coach, Azusa Pacific University

What is Victor Santa Cruz (1990) known for?

Born on April 7, 1972, Victor Santa Cruz is a noteworthy alumni of Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, California who has made significant contributions to American football as a player and a coach. He first launched his playing career at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he was a four-year letterman from 1991 to 1994 as a linebacker for the Hawaii Warriors.

He started his coaching career in 1996 at El Camino High School in Oceanside, California. After five years, he transitioned to Azusa Pacific University, where he served as an assistant coach before becoming the head coach in 2006. Santa Cruz led Azusa Pacific to the NAIA playoffs in 2010 and 2011, and subsequently guided them through their transition to NCAA Division II in 2012. He brought the team to their first conference championship in school history in 2013 and landed their second national championship with a staggering 67–0 win over the Greenville Panthers in the 2013 Victory Bowl.

Under Santa Cruz's leadership, Azusa Pacific had their first ever back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2013 and 2014. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference recognized Santa Cruz's coaching prowess, naming him Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014, and 2016. By the end of the 2019 season, Santa Cruz recorded 84 wins and 69 losses, making him the program's all-time leader in coaching victories.

In 2020, Santa Cruz returned to his alma mater, the University of Hawaii, as a defensive coordinator, contributing to their 28-14 New Mexico Bowl victory over the University of Houston. After the 2020 season, he shifted to the role of defensive ends coach and special teams. However, in the 2022 season, he wasn't retained by the new head coach following some changes in the team's management.

Despite this setback, Santa Cruz's work ethic and contributions to American football, both as a player and a coach, are noteworthy. His trajectory illuminates the potential for former high school athletes to evolve and transition into coaching roles, making a significant impact on and off the field.