Concordia University Chicago Athletics

Eddie Garza was named the head coach of the Concordia University Chicago women's soccer team in January of 2022.

Garza is dedicated to increasing the success of CUC's historic program, and his impact is already evident. In the 2024 season, Garza guided the Cougars to their first conference tournament appearance in six years, a significant milestone for the program. The team also boasted two All-Conference players, Elle Wheelock and Allie Brown, along with an All-NACC Tournament selection in Mia Hirayama. In 2023, Auloni Burnell earned All-Conference honors under his leadership.
 
Prior to CUC, Garza spent five seasons on the Northern Illinois University women’s soccer staff, serving as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator in 2021. At NIU, he implemented a possession-based style of play and coached over 50 Academic All-MAC honorees. A highlight of his time there was helping lead the Huskies to an overtime victory over Marquette in 2019, marking NIU’s first win over a Big East school in 14 years.
 
Garza also notably led the Ashford University women’s soccer program to a highly successful 2015 season. He guided them to a 14-5-1 record, an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Tournament Championship, and a spot in the NAIA National Tournament. For his efforts, he was named the 2015 A.I.I. Coach of the Year. During his tenure at Ashford, he coached numerous award-winning players, including the A.I.I. Player, Goalkeeper, and Defender of the Year in 2015, three United Soccer Coaches Midwest All-Region honorees, and a NAIA honorable mention All-American.
 
Garza's coaching career also includes an assistant role with the Ashford men’s team from 2010 to 2015, where he helped guide them to four NAIA national tournament appearances, including three Round of 16 finishes and a semifinalist appearance in 2013. He also served as the Youth Academy Director for the Rockford Raptors Soccer Club and has been an active staff coach with Illinois ODP since 2015.
 
In 2015, he also coached Central Dewitt High School (Dewitt, Iowa) to a State Runner-Up title and was awarded Iowa Coach of the Year.
 
Garza holds a National B License from the United States Soccer Federation. He earned his bachelor's degree in sports and recreation management (2010) and his master's degree in organizational management (2012) from Ashford University.
 

Year	Record	Conference	Finish
Total	13-29-12	10-19-9
2024	7-9-4	3-5-4 NACC	Seventh Place - NACC First Round
2023	3-12-3	4-7-2 NACC	Tenth Place
2022	3-8-5	3-7-3 NACC	Tenth Place