#BowsStories: Victor Santa Cruz

In January 2020, Victor Santa Cruz returned home. The former Rainbow Warrior linebacker was one of the first hires for new head coach Todd Graham, who tabbed him as his associate head coach and defensive coordinator.  

Santa Cruz was a key defensive contributor on UH’s celebrated 1992 squad that captured the school’s first WAC championship and upset Illinois in the Holiday Bowl. His winning ways continued as a coach at Azusa Pacific in California. The 24-year coaching veteran left as the school’s all-time winningest coach, while leading the program to unprecedented success on the field and in the classroom. 

With his first season set to start as a Rainbow Warrior coach, Santa Cruz reflects on his path back to the University of Hawai‘i.  

Tell us how you originally made your way to the University of Hawai‘i as a player. 

It was a very unique and ordained journey. I had actually lived in Kane‘ohe when I was a kid. My dad was in the Marine Corps for 24 years. We moved around quite a bit, but I lived here for three years as a young boy. We moved away, but my parents joked that I always thought Hawai‘i was my home. When I was a kid I would always tell people I was from Hawai‘i. As you get older you start to realize, my dad just moves a lot, haha. (In fact, while growing up Santa Cruz also lived in Okinawa; Yuma, Ariz., and throughout the Southern California towns of Oceanside, El Toro, and Vista.) 

The good lord blessed me with the ability to play football and I played at two different high schools in California. During the recruiting process, all these letters came my way. But at the end of the day the offers came and went and I was left without anything. And then Hawai‘i came afterward. Rich Ellerson found me. We didn’t have the internet back then so you’re just hoping that people get your tape. Coach Ellerson came by and we started talking and they offered me a scholarship. I didn’t come out on an official visit. I said, you know what, you want me, I want you, and hey I’m all in. 

And I guess the University of Hawai‘i worked out pretty well, right? 

UH was the best place for me. When you’re choosing a university and a place to play, it’s all about the fit. This place gave me all the challenges, the tools, the training, the people, and especially the love and aloha to help me grow into a young, educated man. I’m the first to graduate from college in my entire bloodline. To get your degree and to see your parents beaming knowing you were able to accomplish something no one else had, it was quite the ordeal. So I’m forever grateful to all my coaches and the constant support of the community. The friends I met here are life-long and they’re the people my kids call “auntie” and “uncle.”

What are your fondest memories from your playing days at UH?

There are two main memories. There was always that great feeling of playing at Aloha Stadium. Coming out of that tunnel…that never gets old. And I can’t wait to do it again. Then you look at the ’92 season. The WAC championship. The Holiday Bowl. The players, the coaches, we were all united. We had some talented people. I’m not going to say we didn’t. But we also had a spirit of unity and love for each other. I took that into my coaching career. That’s the secret sauce right there, and your always trying to create that. 

Your graduated from UH with a degree in economics. What was your plan after graduation and when did coaching get in the mix?

I remember before my junior year, my dad asked me what I wanted to do after I graduated. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I said I want to coach college football. But I got an economics degree and so I said, you know what, I’m going to go into the business world. And I did that for a few years with financial sales and marketing. The first year out, I was miserable. I was just missing the game. My wife and I were living back in San Diego and I remember her telling me, ‘you need to coach.’ And that was just the green light and the affirmation to go follow my dream. I got a job at Petco packing dog food, started coaching high school football, and I was extremely happy. I found a sense of calling, of purpose, and peace. Lo and behold I eventually found myself at Azusa Pacific, became a head coach and luckily we had some success there. 

Who are some of the people who have helped mold you as a coach?

Pete Shinnick is one of my biggest mentors. He’s the head coach at the University of West Florida and they won the DII national championship last year. Pete was the guy who hired me at Azusa Pacific for my first college job. He helped me understand how to build a high-caliber football program, while coaching with a heart…to help the kids out, to see the person behind the facemask. Football is a crucible. It’s going to challenge you beyond the norm. You’re going to get knocked down, but you’re going to have to get back up. I’ve always had this philosophy and learned it from Pete. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to build champions, while pursuing championships. 

You played linebacker and have spent most of your career as a defensive coach. Yet, for a few years you served as an offensive coordinator at Azusa Pacific. How did that help you as a coach?

Becoming an OC completely opened up my mind. When you immerse yourself in the whole other side of the ball,  it all starts to click. It was like the best three years of my career. I really thank Pete Shinnick for helping me with that whole opportunity and it was a lot of fun. But at the end of the day my heart is with the defense. I’m an attacking, defensive type of guy. I love it. 

photos courtesy of Azusa Pacific

How did your relationship with Coach Graham develop? 

I’ve always been a pressure guy on defense. After hearing about what Coach Graham was doing defensively, a mutual friend of ours got me connected with him. I first visited Arizona State in 2015. I admired the competition on the practice field, I admired the way the coaches treated their players, and I admired the spirit of excellence around there. There was such a high level of discipline and character and respect. I knew I wanted to continue to know Coach Graham, his program and his style and we kicked off the relationship. Throughout the years we stayed in contact, talked about different ideas, and then this opportunity came across. I really enjoy working for him because he’s someone who is such a highly intelligent football coach. I’m learning something new from him every day. You got to find out who’s the best out there and then go learn from them. Now I get to serve alongside him. I’m getting better, because I’m around him. 

What was that initial phone call like when Coach Graham extended the offer to join him here?

You really begin understand what surreal means. I was like, wow, this is really happening. It’s always been a dream to come back here and serve in some capacity. When our kids were younger, we also wondered if there was a way to come back and to raise them over here. But it’s always about timing. The timing was perfect for us to come back here. My family and I are truly enjoying it. While the work is hard and the days are long, it’s just well worth it. I get a chance to serve a university and a community that helped me become who I am. 

What has it meant to return to your alma mater as a coach?

There is a sense of honor and of gratitude, as well as the responsibility to give back. When I see the players in the program today, I begin to remember what I was going through, It’s a time when you’re starting to spread your wings as a young man. You have perspective. You’ve been in their shoes, you’ve put on that uniform. I feel a great deal of responsibility to help give them the best opportunity possible.  To challenge them with their academics and to make the most out of their football experience. 

You mentioned how your wife helped steer you into coaching. Tell us more about your family.

My wife Jamie and I got married my senior year in college. I didn’t get a chance to go home to  California much, but one summer I went back. I stopped by church one Sunday and during service the pastor said to greet somebody, and there she was. I’m telling you, my life has been filled with these ordained moments. We’ve been married for 26 years. My oldest son Deuce (Victor Jr.) is a freshman here at UH. My daughter Izabella is a senior in high school and then my youngest Levi is a freshman in high school. They all love football. They missed it more than I did. The falls, the gamedays. They’re like ‘Man, let’s get this going.’ 

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