After guiding Meridian’s boys soccer program to a state championship, head coach Nathan Greiner stepped down from his role as the varsity head coach, closing a remarkable chapter for the team. With the departure of fifteen seniors and a new roster taking shape, the program turns to a familiar figure; former JV coach Ronald Cruz-Rivas, who takes the reins of the team as the new varsity head coach.
Coach Rivas steps into the position with much respect and appreciation for the foundation that coach Greiner left him.
“Coach Greiner built an incredible foundation and championship culture here, and I have a lot of respect for what he accomplished. My goal is to build upon that standard and continue pushing the program forward. We believe we’re only going up from here, and if we ever take a step backward, we’ll respond by taking multiple steps forward,” coach Rivas said.
Coach Rivas plans to build a culture of success, resilience and growth, instilling the team with values that will follow them both on and off the pitch. He wants a team that “respects the game and respects one another,” to represent the school with pride.
“We want to compete at a high level, win games, and fight for championships, but always the right way,” Rivas described.
Rivas’ passion for coaching comes from the impact his own coaches had on him growing up. They pushed him to be disciplined, confident, and mentally strong, lessons that shaped him far beyond the field. His own playing career also influences the way he leads today.
“My experience playing at the collegiate level, in academy systems, and at the national team level has shaped me tremendously as a coach. I’ve been very fortunate to learn from high level coaches in different environments, which taught me the importance of standards, discipline, preparation, and strong culture,” Rivas said.
Now, he hopes to pass on what he has learned to the next generation of players, instilling them with hard work, discipline and leadership, as he looks to continue and build on the team’s success.
The team is excited to have coach Rivas at the helm, and looks forward to playing under him this upcoming season and in the future.
