Creighton’s all-time winningest coach, Bruce Erickson begins his tenth campaign leading the Creighton women’s soccer program. Erickson, the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, is the most tenured leader in Bluejay women’s soccer program history, and his 81 victories make him the most successful coach in the program’s annals. He has guided the Bluejays to a MVC regular-season title, four MVC tournament championships and has led the Bluejays to four NCAA tournament appearances in the last five seasons.
Erickson has established the Creighton women’s soccer program as one of the top teams in the conference since his arrival prior to the 1999 season. The Bluejays’ performance on the field has improved – four straight MVC tournament championship matches between 2002 and 2005 and four NCAA appearances in a six year span (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007). While on field performance has improved in posting six straight winning seasons, the Bluejays’ facilities have also received significant upgrades. In 2003, the Bluejays opened the $13 million Morrison Stadium, a state-of-the-art, on-campus facility. The Jays were unbeaten (5-0-1) at home in 2003 and are 24-8-5 in four years at the venue. Creighton has led the Valley in attendance the past four seasons and twice hosted the MVC Tournament at what is considered one of the finest collegiate soccer venues in the nation.
The 2006 squad finished second in the MVC at 3-2-1, and posted a 9-8-2 overall mark despite being decimated by injuries. Erickson’s first Canadian recruit, Emily Munn wrapped up her career with her second first-team all-MVC honor, while Valerie Zimmerer finished her career as the school’s career leader with a 0.96 goals against average.
In 2005, the Bluejays owned a high-powered attack which led the league in offense, matching the highest goal total in the Erickson era with 44 scores. Freshman Marcy Gans led the CU offense with eight goals and 22 points, while sophomore Kristine Willrett tied a school record with 12 assists. Creighton was dominant at home, compiling an 8-1-1 record, while winning a second straight MVC postseason title, as tournament host. The 2004 Bluejays were guided by youth, managing to capture the MVC postseason title for the second time in school history after finishing second in the regular-season with a 3-1-3 league record.
Creighton’s 2003 season was marked by injuries, but Erickson still guided his team to a solid 11-6-4 record. The Jays established a school record with a 0.81 overall goals against average in 2003. They also appeared in the MVC tournament championship match for the second consecutive season, falling in penalty kicks after a hard-fought double overtime match.
Erickson’s 2002 squad won the MVC regular-season title with an unbeaten 6-0-1 record in conference play. The Jays then captured the MVC tournament title with a thrilling 1-0 overtime win against Illinois State, advancing to the first NCAA tournament in program history. The 2002 team allowed only three goals in seven MVC matches for a 0.42 goals against average.
Erickson’s teams have ranged from offensively gifted to defensively stifling. The Bluejays dished 49 assists in 2001 and established a school record of 50 helpers in 2000. The Jays capitalized on their assists during that two-year run. Their 88 goals over the 2000 and 2001 seasons have been topped only by the 1989-90 teams (92 goals) for the most goals in a two-year span.
In 2002 under Erickson’s guidance, Jaimie Thompson became the first goalkeeper in league history to win the MVC Player of the Year award. Regina Moench captured 2001 MVC Freshman of the Year honors and in 2004 Franny Hylok became just the second player in school history to earn all-MVC honors in each of her four seasons at CU.
“Bruce is a tremendous women’s soccer coach,” Creighton Athletics Director Bruce Rasmussen said. “His experience is matched by few coaches in the country. His administrative background, coupled with his knowledge of the game, make Bruce one of the top women’s soccer coaches in the country.”
The Jays’ success under Erickson extends beyond the playing field as he has coached 16 MVC first-team scholar-athletes and the Bluejays have won the NSCAA College Team Academic Award each of the past seven seasons. In 2003, Krystle Campa earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. On the field, 17 Bluejays have earned first-team all-MVC honors during his tenure.
Erickson came to Creighton from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where he had served as head men’s soccer coach since 1993 and director of athletics since 1995. He helped instill a winning soccer tradition at the NAIA school, as the V-Hawks were consistently nationally-ranked during his tenure. The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native also was responsible for starting and coaching the inaugural Viterbo women’s soccer team in 1995.
While at the helm of the V-Hawk men’s squad, Erickson compiled an overall record of 69-46-6 (.595), which included five winning campaigns. He led Viterbo to three Midwest Classic Conference championships and one NAIA district title. He also earned league “Coach of the Year” four times and was named both league and NAIA District “Coach of the Year” in 1993.
Erickson has served as a high school girls’ staff coach for the Olympic Development Programs in both Wisconsin and Minnesota and holds a NSCAA advanced national diploma as well as a NSCAA goalkeeping diploma.
Before his coaching career at Viterbo, Erickson was a four-year starting goalkeeper for the V-Hawks from 1986 to 1990. He was an all-conference goalkeeper and earned NLCAA All-America honors in 1986. Erickson still holds the all-time goals against average record at the school, with a 0.87 GAA during his collegiate career.
Erickson received a bachelor of science degree in industrial psychology from Viterbo in December 1990. He resides in Omaha with his wife, Sue, and their three children, Emma (11), Olivia (8) and Noah (6).