Patrick Guillien on new UH Hilo soccer coach: ‘He will be an educator, mentor and strong role model for our students’

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The University of Hawaii Hilo has hired a new men's soccer coach. | Photo by Travel Nomades on Unsplash

The University of Hawaii Hilo Director of Athletics, Patrick Guillen, said Garrett Estrin, the university’s new soccer coach, will ensure “student” stays in the term student-athlete while instilling a love for the game.

"Coach Estrin made an excellent impression on our search committee and set himself apart from the other finalists during my interview with him,” Guillen said in a recent press release. "Garrett is passionate about the sport of soccer but even more passionate about student success and using the sport to nurture and develop life skills.”

Estrin brings national championship experience as a player and a coach. He was selected from a pool of nearly 100 applicants to replace former head coach Paul Regrutto as the leader of the men's soccer squad, the release stated. Regrutto left the position earlier this year to pursue another career.

Prior to becoming UH Hilo’s soccer coach, Estrin was the head coach of the College of the Desert's women's soccer program for six seasons, according to the release. Estrin is the all-time win leader at that school with 50 victories. While he was there, he coached 42 All-Conference selections, 14 State Scholar Academic award winners, and was the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2018.

He has experience at various levels including, Division I, Division II, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and junior colleges.

“Coach Estrin is a blue-collar type of coach that will hit the ground running and work hard to take our program to the next level,” Guillen said. “But most importantly, he will be an educator, mentor and strong role model for our students." 

Last fall, the men's soccer team finished 6-7-1 overall, and 4-5-1 in the PacWest. Six of the team’s seven losses were by just one goal, including a 3-2 overtime loss against Seattle Pacific, according to the University’s website.