Eddie Garza
Head Men's Soccer Coach | Sports Coordinator
Eddie Garza was named Head Men's Soccer Coach and Sports Coordinator at Rock Valley College in 2026, bringing more than a decade of collegiate, professional, and youth coaching experience to the Golden Eagles program.
A Rockford native, Garza returns home after establishing himself as one of the Midwest's respected collegiate coaches. His coaching experience spans the NJCAA, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USL, and elite youth soccer, providing him with a broad background in player development, recruiting, and program building.
Prior to joining Rock Valley College, Garza served as the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Concordia University Chicago. Before leading the Concordia program, he spent five seasons on the NCAA Division I coaching staff at Northern Illinois University, where he advanced to the role of Associate Head Coach in 2021. During his tenure with the Huskies, Garza played an integral role in recruiting, player development, scouting, match preparation, and daily program operations while competing in the Mid-American Conference.
Garza has also remained actively involved in the Rockford soccer community. During the summer of 2026, he served as Head Coach of the Rockford Raptors USL-W team while also working as an Assistant Coach for the Raptors' USL League Two squad. His familiarity with the local soccer landscape and strong recruiting connections throughout the Midwest provide a valuable foundation for continued success at Rock Valley College.
Earlier in his coaching career, Garza built an impressive résumé at Ashford University. After serving as an assistant coach for the men's soccer program from 2010–15, he helped guide the Saints to four NAIA National Tournament appearances, including three Round of 16 appearances and a trip to the national semifinals in 2013. He later became the Head Women's Soccer Coach and was recognized as the 2015 Coach of the Year for his leadership and success.
Beyond the collegiate level, Garza has served as the Youth Academy Director for the Rockford Raptors and has worked within the Illinois Olympic Development Program (ODP), helping identify and develop some of the state's top young soccer talent.
Garza's coaching philosophy centers on developing complete student-athletes by emphasizing technical growth, tactical understanding, character, accountability, and academic success. His goal is to build a championship-caliber program while preparing student-athletes for success at the four-year level and beyond.
Garza holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "B" License and earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Ashford University.
