Solberg is coming from NCAA Division II East Central University and also coached at NCAA Division I Nicholls State University. We are excited to have Erik Solberg as our new head womens soccer coach, says ETBU Director of Athletics Kent Reeves. Erik is a strong Christian coach who will lead the team holistically.  He will work to help mold their minds academically, their bodies athletically, and their hearts spiritually. Solberg brings coaching experience from the Louisiana High School and club levels along with NCAA Division I and II programs. He has been the assistant coach for the womens soccer program at East Central University the past two seasons where he helped lead the team to their best overall record since the 2011 season and to the Great American Conference semi-final tournament game. Prior to being an assistant at East Central, Solberg started his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Nicholls State University in 2013. In the one season he was there, Nicholls State recorded their best record in program history at 12-6-2, most conference wins (6), and first conference tournament appearance since 2004. We are thankful that the Lord led Erik to join the ETBU Family.  Erik possesses the talent and passion to build a championship program. He has a heart for students that emanates from his love for Christ.  From the pitch to the community, Erik will lead our Tigers to be champions who transform the world for Christ, says ETBU president Dr. J. Blair Blackburn. In the 2013-14 season, Solberg also coached at the high school and club level in Louisiana. He was the head boys soccer coach at Ponchatoula High School which played in the LHSAA Division I category which is the largest category for schools in Louisiana. He also led the U-12 Saint Charles Soccer Club. He guided that team to the 2014 Louisiana State Cup/Governors Cup Championship and also won two of three spring tournaments. Growing his knowledge in soccer, Solberg has worked several camps and also has an Advanced National Diploma and National Diploma from the NSCAA along with a soccer certification from the National Federation of State High School Associations. From 2009-10 he was the Skyhawks, Inc., camp director and coach in Chicago, Illinois, working with ages three to 15 years old. He has also worked camps at the University of Wisconsin, University of Oregon, Nicholls State University, East Central University and was a staff member of the Texas Spirit ID camp and SportSource College Showcase ID camp. Solbergs playing career has been at the club levels in Illinois and Mississippi. He played U-11 through high school club soccer for two different clubs in the Grove United Soccer Club and Buffalo Grove Hurricanes Club in Chicago. In college, he was a part of the University of Mississippis Ole Miss mens club team from 2009-2012 playing as a midfielder. Graduating from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Liberal Studies in 2012, Solberg was a student-athlete for the Rebels. He competed at the NCAA Division I level in track and field and cross country for the Rebels where he earned a spot on the SEC honor roll in 2009-10. He then went on to complete his athletic eligibility at Southeastern Louisiana State University pursuing his masters degree. Competing at SELU, he was named to the Southland Conference academic honor roll and also earned a letter in track and field. He started his masters degree at SELU and finished in 2015 at East Central University earning  his masters in Education with a concentration in Sports Administration. Servant leadership has been a big part of Solbergs life as he has helped with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddles and participated on a mission trip. He helped start the FCA campus huddle at Nicholls State University and was on the leadership staff at Ole Miss and SELU. In 2012, he went on an Athletes In Action mission trip to Zimbabwe. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native is also a skilled violinist having played from 2009-11 with the Lafayette-Oxford-University Orchestra. Solberg has also been the PA announcer at Ole Miss sporting events been a play-by-play broadcaster for Nicholls State University and the Rochester Honkers baseball organization. While in high school in Illinois, Solberg was an All-American in track & field and has been inducted into the Buffalo Grove High School Hall of Fame. He finished sixth in the 2000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 USATF National Youth Track & Field championships and was a member of the 2003 USATF National Junior Olympic team champion in cross country. ARSHALL, Texas Having success in coaching as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I and II womens soccer programs, Erik Solberg is ready to take on the challenge as the new head of the East Texas Baptist University womens soccer team. Solberg is coming from NCAA Division II East Central University and also coached at NCAA Division I Nicholls State University. We are excited to have Erik Solberg as our new head womens soccer coach, says ETBU Director of Athletics Kent Reeves. Erik is a strong Christian coach who will lead the team holistically.  He will work to help mold their minds academically, their bodies athletically, and their hearts spiritually. Solberg brings coaching experience from the Louisiana High School and club levels along with NCAA Division I and II programs. He has been the assistant coach for the womens soccer program at East Central University the past two seasons where he helped lead the team to their best overall record since the 2011 season and to the Great American Conference semi-final tournament game. Prior to being an assistant at East Central, Solberg started his collegiate coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Nicholls State University in 2013. In the one season he was there, Nicholls State recorded their best record in program history at 12-6-2, most conference wins (6), and first conference tournament appearance since 2004. We are thankful that the Lord led Erik to join the ETBU Family.  Erik possesses the talent and passion to build a championship program. He has a heart for students that emanates from his love for Christ.  From the pitch to the community, Erik will lead our Tigers to be champions who transform the world for Christ, says ETBU president Dr. J. Blair Blackburn. In the 2013-14 season, Solberg also coached at the high school and club level in Louisiana. He was the head boys soccer coach at Ponchatoula High School which played in the LHSAA Division I category which is the largest category for schools in Louisiana. He also led the U-12 Saint Charles Soccer Club. He guided that team to the 2014 Louisiana State Cup/Governors Cup Championship and also won two of three spring tournaments. Growing his knowledge in soccer, Solberg has worked several camps and also has an Advanced National Diploma and National Diploma from the NSCAA along with a soccer certification from the National Federation of State High School Associations. From 2009-10 he was the Skyhawks, Inc., camp director and coach in Chicago, Illinois, working with ages three to 15 years old. He has also worked camps at the University of Wisconsin, University of Oregon, Nicholls State University, East Central University and was a staff member of the Texas Spirit ID camp and SportSource College Showcase ID camp. Solbergs playing career has been at the club levels in Illinois and Mississippi. He played U-11 through high school club soccer for two different clubs in the Grove United Soccer Club and Buffalo Grove Hurricanes Club in Chicago. In college, he was a part of the University of Mississippis Ole Miss mens club team from 2009-2012 playing as a midfielder. Graduating from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Liberal Studies in 2012, Solberg was a student-athlete for the Rebels. He competed at the NCAA Division I level in track and field and cross country for the Rebels where he earned a spot on the SEC honor roll in 2009-10. He then went on to complete his athletic eligibility at Southeastern Louisiana State University pursuing his masters degree. Competing at SELU, he was named to the Southland Conference academic honor roll and also earned a letter in track and field. He started his masters degree at SELU and finished in 2015 at East Central University earning  his masters in Education with a concentration in Sports Administration. Servant leadership has been a big part of Solbergs life as he has helped with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddles and participated on a mission trip. He helped start the FCA campus huddle at Nicholls State University and was on the leadership staff at Ole Miss and SELU. In 2012, he went on an Athletes In Action mission trip to Zimbabwe. The Arlington Heights, Ill., native is also a skilled violinist having played from 2009-11 with the Lafayette-Oxford-University Orchestra. Solberg has also been the PA announcer at Ole Miss sporting events been a play-by-play broadcaster for Nicholls State University and the Rochester Honkers baseball organization. While in high school in Illinois, Solberg was an All-American in track & field and has been inducted into the Buffalo Grove High School Hall of Fame. He finished sixth in the 2000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 USATF National Youth Track & Field championships and was a member of the 2003 USATF National Junior Olympic team champion in cross country.