Eddie Soto named to replace Jon Spencer as head soccer coach at Servite High School

Eddie Soto is the new boys soccer coach at Servite. (Photo courtesy Servite High School)

Servite High School officials announced the hiring of Eddie Soto as head soccer coach Thursday. Coach Soto will fill the opening left following Coach Jon Spencer’s resignation.

Servite Athletic Director Alan Clinton said in a statement: “We have great confidence in Coach Soto and his ability to lead  our soccer program. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team as both a high level coach and athlete.

“He is well-respected with an incredible track record for success. We believe  Coach Soto will be an extraordinary mentor for our student-athletes and provide tremendous  leadership to keep our program moving forward.” 

Spencer resigned his position as head soccer coach after eight seasons with Servite and was named head boys coach at Orange Lutheran shortly after that. At Servite, he led the team to seven Trinity League championships and two CIF Division 1 championships.

Coach Soto brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the Friars working at both the collegiate  and youth level. He currently serves as and will remain the head coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills  having taken over the program in 2019 after a successful five-season run at the University of San  Francisco.

Before USF, he spent eight seasons as an assistant at UCLA before stints at Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton.

In addition, Coach Soto worked as the men’s head coach for the  USA Beach Soccer National Team from 2007-2020 while serving as the U.S. Soccer Development  Academy Head Coach with the LA Galaxy Academy from 2009-2013.  

Coach Soto said: “I am extremely honored to have the privilege to lead this team and thankful to  Coach Clinton and the Servite administration for placing their faith in me. Having recruited and  coached former Servite players at the collegiate level, I’ve witnessed firsthand the high caliber young  men this program develops.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to carry on the mission of the school and  strengthen the tradition of excellence already established within the soccer program. I look forward to  supporting these young men as they pursue greatness academically, spiritually and athletically.”

As an athlete, Soto was a two-time High School Parade All-American and the 1990 CIF 3A Player of  the Year at Cerritos High School. He was also a member of the NHB Futbol Club that won the 1991  National Championship and a member of the U.S. U-18 and U-20 National Teams.

He then moved on  to compete collegiately at Cal State Fullerton where he was a two-time All-America selection. Soto  graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology before being selected in the initial MLS Draft  in 1996 by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars then again in the 1998 supplemental draft by the  San Jose Clash.  

Coach Soto and his wife Stephanie have three children:  Fabrizio, Wyatt and Isabela.