Monday, January 27, 2020
by Azusa Pacific Athletic Communications

"The entire Azusa Pacific community has been incredibly blessed to have Victor and his family here the past 19 seasons," said Azusa Pacific athletic director Gary Pine. "He has been an outstanding leader, mentor, and coach for the Cougars. Victor has made such an impact on hundreds of young men who have been a part of this program, both on and off the field. We could not be more excited for the new opportunity that he and his family have before them, but we will greatly miss them."
 
Since moving to Division II and the GNAC in 2013, Santa Cruz led the Cougars to a 56-38 overall record while winning 42 of its past 55 conference games. Eight Cougars have signed domestic professional contracts with NFL or CFL organizations, including former NFL running back Terrell Watson, and most recently, 2018 graduate Matt Orzech with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 
In addition to the success on the football field, Santa Cruz's teams consistently excelled in the classroom. Under his guidance, Azusa Pacific claimed six consecutive GNAC academic team championships for posting the highest team GPA in the conference.
 
Santa Cruz's new position at Hawai'i is familiar territory for the veteran coach, as he knows the Hawaiian Islands well.  In addition, he has served as a defensive coordinator before. In 2004 and 2005, he was the Cougars' defensive coordinator. During the 2004 season, Santa Cruz's defense allowed just 135 points in 14 games (school-record low 9.6 points a game) and registered an NAIA-leading 55 quarterback sacks. Better yet, in three NAIA playoff games, the Cougars surrendered just 17 points, holding two of the NAIA's top four offenses (No. 1-ranked Sioux Falls and No. 4 Northwestern Oklahoma) to a combined three points.
 
Santa Cruz is returning to the school that he calls home.  He spent his collegiate career as a linebacker for the Rainbow Warriors from 1990 through 1994. Over his four seasons at Hawaii, he tallied 139 tackles (83 solo).  He redshirted the 1990 season and then played in 46 games over the next four seasons (1991-94). As a 1992 sophomore, he played on the Rainbows' Western Athletic Conference championship team that beat Illinois in the Holiday Bowl.
 
"I have loved my time at Azusa Pacific and will always be a Cougar, but I was called home and I had to answer," said Santa Cruz, "Hawai'i helped shape me into the man and coach that I am, and this was an opportunity for me to return to that special place. I know the pride that the Rainbow Warriors bring to the entire state, and I am honored to go back and be a part of it once again."
 
"Victor elevated Azusa Pacific football over the past 19 years. His leadership built on the strong foundation that had been laid by previous Cougar head coaches, and he fearlessly moved the program from the NAIA into the NCAA, continuing in the pursuit of excellence," said Pine.