HILO, Hawai'i– After a nationwide search, the UH Hilo Athletic Department has found the right fit to lead the men's soccer program.
Garrett Estrin, who has national championship experience as a player and a coach, was selected from a pool of nearly 100 applicants to replace former head coach Paul Regrutto as the leader of the men's soccer squad.
"Coach Estrin made an excellent impression on our search committee and set himself apart from the other finalists during my interview with him", stated UH Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen. "Garrett is passionate about the sport of soccer but even more passionate about student success and using the sport to nurture and develop life skills.
"He's been successful at the Division I, Division II, NAIA and junior college levels. He is a great fit for our program and our community. Coach Estrin is a blue-collar type coach that will hit the ground running and work hard to take our program to the next level. But most importantly, he will be an educator, mentor and strong role model for our students."
Estrin comes to the Vulcans from Cathedral City, California and was most recently the head coach of the College of the Desert's women's soccer program for six seasons. While at COD, Estrin overhauled the women's soccer program and led them to their first winning season since 1999.
"I am so thrilled and honored to be selected as the new head coach of the UH Hilo men's soccer program," Estrin said. "I want to thank the search committee for choosing me to move forward in the selection process, as well as our Athletic Director Patrick Guillen, for having the faith in me to guide the men's soccer program into what I affirm to be an exciting time for men's soccer at UH Hilo."
Estrin has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills and several coaching certificates from the United Soccer Coaches Association, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, California Community College Athletic Association and the Cal Youth Soccer program.
Estrin is the all-time leader at COD with 50 coaching victories. While leading the Roadrunners he coached 42 All-Conference selections, 14 State Scholar Academic award winners, and was the PCAC Coach of the Year in 2018.
Estrin knows how to multitask. In addition to his full time job as the COD women's soccer coach he wore several other hats including: the COD assistant athletic coordinator for compliance, the COD head softball coach, the COD men's soccer assistant coach, the assistant women's soccer coach at The Master's University, and the head girl's soccer coach at Rancho Mirage High School where he led the Blue Rattlers to back-to-back conference championships and to the CIF semifinals.
Estrin's coaching journey began at his alma mater, Cal State Dominguez Hills where he was an assistant coach for a men's soccer team that reached the NCAA finals and he was also the lead assistant coach for the women's soccer team.
Prior to coaching he spent two years as a training player after capping his collegiate career for the Toros in 2000.
Estrin spent four years as a Cal State Dominguez Hills student-athlete where he was a three-year starter and team captain. He led the Toros to a NCAA II national title in 2000 in a thrilling 2-1 four-overtime win over Barry University (FL). Estrin garnered several awards at CSUDH including: a two-time CCAA Player of the Year, three-time CCAA Player of the Week, and an All-NCAA Tournament Team Goalkeeper.
"We in Vulcan Athletics are proud to welcome Garrett Estrin to the 'Ohana," Guillen added. We are excited to see what the future holds for the men's soccer program under his leadership."
