East Texas Baptist University Men's Soccer

A familiar face has been called upon to return as the head coach for the men's soccer program starting in December 2023 as ETBU announced that Chris Crawford will lead the program. Crawford had a very successful three-year reign as head coach for ETBU from 2016-18 winning 25 matches and posting their first 10-win season in 13 years.   "I am excited to welcome Coach Crawford back as the Head Coach of Tiger Soccer.  His passion and commitment to Christ-centered athletics, discipleship and excellence in all areas of the student-athlete experience makes him the perfect fit for ETBU and the Men's Soccer program.  I am looking forward to seeing the impact Coach Crawford has on the team and the student-athletes as he invests in the lives of his players, academically, spiritually and athletically," Vice President for Student Engagement and Athletics Ryan Erwin said.   Crawford has had 21 players earn All-ASC awards such as Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Freshman of the Year, Defensive Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-Conference, 3rd Team All-Conference, and Honorable Mentions. Under Coach Crawford, ETBU Men’s Soccer hosted it’s first-ever NCAA Division III post-season match in 2018. His 33 wins as a head coach are second all-time in program history behind storied head coach Jose Alonzo's 184 wins.   "My family and I are extremely thrilled to be back with ETBU Men's Soccer and continue in building on this great program.  I am beyond thankful for Dr. Blackburn and Mr. Erwin for trusting in me and allowing my family and to pour into these student-athletes and invest in the future of ETBU Soccer," says Crawford.   The 2018 season was Crawford's finest season taking ETBU as they hosted and won the program's first post-season match against the University of the Ozarks in the American Southwest Conference tournament, 1-0. They were also seconds away from playing for the ASC Tournament championship falling to UT Dallas, 1-0, in double overtime as a goal was scored in the 109th minute in the semi-final match. That season produced 10 wins which was the most since 2005. Six players earned All-ASC awards and Daniel Rutter and Bryant Botello made the ASC All-Tournament team. ETBU also upset #25 Texas Dallas, 2-1, in regular season as part of their six-match unbeaten streak in the season. His first two seasons brought 15 wins with nine in the 2016 season.   Discipleship was a major part of Crawford's program as he started weekly Bible studies and monthly community service. He also took his 2017 team to Nicaragua on a Tiger Athletic Mission Experience (TAME) trip.   Prior to ETBU, Crawford re-started the Dallas Baptist University men's soccer program in 2012 serving as the head coach for three seasons. He was on the South Central Region rankings committee for the United Soccer Coaches (USC) and a member of the NCAA Division II regional advisory committee for two years. He has an USC national and advanced national diploma and worked as a coach at both the FCA Dallas and Exact Camp soccer clinics.   Crawford played collegiately at DBU from 1999-2001 and received a bachelor's degree in Christian Studies and two Masters Degrees in Kinesiology and Higher Education. He is married to Kerry and they have four children in Maggie (13), Easton (12), Mollie Blake (10), and Chandler (10). He will also continue in his role at ETBU as the Assistant Vice President of University Operations.   2024 Highlights 8 win season ASC Tournament semi-final match appearance (#3 seed) 8 players earn All-ASC awards Junior Lopez is the ASC Offensive Player of hte Year & Freshman Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Lord is the ASC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Bruno Palmieri and Junior Lopez are on All-ASC Tournament Team Three players earned AS Player of the Week awards Started the season off 3-0 Defeated LeTourneau, 5-1, in final ASC meeting 2018 Highlights 10 win season Program's first-ever NCAA Division III post-season match on campus ASC Tournament semi-final match appearance Won ASC Tournament first-round match 6 players earn All-ASC awards Daniel Rutter and Bryant Botello are on the All-ASC Tournament team 6-match unbeaten streak Upset #21 Texas Dallas, 2-1 2017 Highlights Shutout Hendrix College 3-0 at home Defeated Millsaps College 3-2 in Jackson, MS Scored a season-high four goals in a 4-3 victory over Howard Payne Defeated Centenary College 2-1 on the road 2016 Highlights Won nine games which was the most since 2005 Earned four wins in the ASC Five players named All-ASC Team posted seven shutouts in the nine wins Picked up a big ASC win over Texas Tyler, 2-1, at Cornish Field About Coach Crawford Graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Christian Studies Earned two Master’s Degrees from Dallas Baptist University in Kinesiology and High Education Restarted the men’s soccer program at Dallas Baptist University in 2012 with no scholarships Head men’s soccer coach at Dallas Baptist University for three years (2012-14) Played for Dallas Baptist University from 1999-2001 Was the Director of Administrative Affairs at Dallas Baptist (2014-16) Member of the NSCAA Division II South Central Region rankings committee for two years Member of the NCAA Division II regional advisory committee for two years Holds a NSCAA National and Advanced National Diploma Worked camps at FCA Dallas and Exact Camp Soccer Clinics Held positions at DBU that included resident director, director of intramural sports, fitness center director, athletic training center director, and director of apartment life Missions/Servant Leadership Led ETBU men’s soccer team on Tiger Athletic Missions Experience trip to Nicaragua in May 2017 Took Dallas Baptist University team on a mission trip to Curitiba, Brazil, in 2014 during the FIFA World Cup Team helped the Brazil area recover from a massive rain storm that displaced 13,000 people Team played a semi-pro team DBU teams worked soccer clinics at Mercy Street West Dallas and Grand Prairie YMCA Dallas Baptist University Went 4-4-1 in conference play in 2013 for a fourth-place tie 2013 conference finish was best yet in new program Won six matches in 2013 In first season with no scholarships, won four matches Record at ETBU   Year Overall ASC ASC Tournament 2024 8-10-1 3-4-1 0-1 2018 10-6-2  6-3-2 1-1 2017 6-8-3 2-7-2 NA 2016 9-9-0 4-6-0 NA Total 33-33-6 15-20-5 1-2   All-ASC Players ASC Major Awards Offensive Player of the Year Junior Lopez (2024) Freshman Offensive Player of the Year Junior Lopez (2024) Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Lord 2024 Dylan Garcia (1st team) Joel Garica (1st team) Junior Lopez (1st team) Jacob Wenzel (2nd team) Joseph Flores (2nd team) Regan Trojacek (2nd team) Bruno Palmieri (honorable mention) Ryan Lord (honorable mention) 2018 Daniel Rutter (1st team) Travis Atkinson (2nd team) Silas Sangano (3rd team) Juan Cairo (honorable mention) Jacob Lopez (honorable mention) Bryant Botello (honorable mention)   2017 Jordan Burke (3rd team) Travis Atkinson (3rd team) Daniel Rutter (honorable mention) Max Ponticorvo (honorable mention)   2016 Joel Ramirez (2nd team) Travis Atkinson (2nd team) Daniel Rutter (3rd team) David Jackson (honorable mention) Jordan Burke (honorable mention)  

Burke begins his second season under head coach Chris Crawford and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in December 2024. He returned to ETBU after being an assistant soccer coach and teaching at Dickinson High School.   "I am beyond thankful and blessed to have Jordan Burke join our staff and return back to ETBU.  His discipline, accountability, and love for this program will help us grow and achieve great things," said head coach Chris Crawford.   Burke was the assistant coach at ETBU from 2020-2022 and the 2023 fall season. In his four years as an assistant coach, 25 players earned All-ASC awards, including Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Freshman of the Year, and Defensive Freshman of the Year. Outside of ETBU, Coach Burke has gained experience in coaching at the club level and high school level. From 2014-2018, he was a member of the soccer program, where he was a three-year captain. The three-time All-ASC selection helped ETBU to the most wins in 10 years, with nine in 2016. He was named to the All-ASC third team in 2015 and 2017 and honorable mention in 2016. A three-time ASC All-Academic team member, he started 63 games and was the ETBU nominee for the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete award in 2018.   The former League City, Texas, native earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degree from ETBU in 2022. In 2018, he was Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Biology and a minor in Kinesiology.  

Oscar De Santiago enters his first season on Chris Crawford's staff for the 2025 men's soccer season. The former All-ASC player spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant at Howard Payne.  “We are so fortunate to add Oscar to our ETBU Soccer coaching staff.  He has a great knowledge and experience of the ASC, recruiting, and will help elevate this program,” said Crawford.   De Santiago played three seasons at Howard Payne and was the graduate assistant coach this past season. The three-time All-ASC selection was the team captain his senior season. He started his soccer career at Cypress Falls High School where he was a two-time All-District selection and the District Defensive MVP his senior year. Coming out of high school, he spent two years at Blinn College playing two seasons for the Bucs earning an Associate Degree in Exercise Science in 2021.     In his summers, he has coached camps with the Real Madrid Foundation all over the United States.     He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology in 2023 and earned a Masters Degree in 2024, both from HPU.