Victor Santa Cruz

University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

Title

Defensive Ends
Email

football@hawaii.edu
Phone

(808) 956-6508

YEARS COACHING

Hawai‘i: 2nd season
Overall: 26th season

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Hawai‘i, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers (2020)
Azusa Pacific, Head Coach (2006-19), Defensive Coordinator (2004-05), Offensive Coordinator (2001-03)
El Camino High School, Linebackers (1996-2000)

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

In his first season at his alma mater, helped direct a UH defense that led the conference in takeaways and ranked in the top 25 nationally in interceptions and passing yards allowed.
Boasts 25 years of coaching experience, including 14 seasons as a head coach Azusa Pacific.
Azusa Pacific’s all-time winningest coach with an overall record of 84-69.
Since 2013, led APU to four Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships and two NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
The Cougars won 41 of its final 50 conference games under Santa Cruz.
Mentored eight Cougars who signed with NFL or CFL organizations, including former NFL running back Terrell Watson and Baltimore Ravens long snapper Matt Orzech.
Guided the program's transition to Division II with a decade of rousing success.
The Cougars had eight winning seasons including back-to-back 10-win seasons and GNAC titles in 2013 and ’14.
APU added two more conference titles in 2016 and ’18.
APU claimed six consecutive GNAC academic team championships for posting the highest team GPA in the conference.
Prior to moving to Division II, Santa Cruz was recognized as the NAIA Independent Coach of the Year in 2010 and ’11.
The Cougars finished ranked No. 5 nationally in 2011.
Served as both the offensive coordinator (2001-03) and defensive coordinator (2004-05) at APU, before being named the ninth head coach in 2006.
In his first season as defensive coordinator in 2004, the Cougars allowed set a school-record low for points allowed per game (9.6) and registered an NAIA-leading 55 quarterback sacks.
In three NAIA playoff games that season, APU surrendered just 17 points, holding two of the NAIA's top four offenses (No. 1 Sioux Falls and No. 4 Northwestern Oklahoma) to a combined three points.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

Hawai‘i, 1991-94

PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS

A member of UH’s 1992 team that’s inducted in the school’s Sports Circle of Honor.
Key contributor at linebacker on a squad that claimed UH’s first Western Athletic Conference championship, defeated Illinois in the Holiday Bowl, and finished with a then-program record 11 wins.
Tallied 139 tackles (83 solo) while playing in 46 career games over four seasons.

EDUCATION

Hawai‘i, B.A., Economics (1995)
Azusa Pacific, M.S., Organizational Leadership (2010)

HOMETOWN

Vista, Calif.

PERSONAL

Wife: Jamie; Children: Victor, Jr., Izabella, and Levi