Former offensive coordinator assumes head coaching position after departure of Victor Santa Cruz
The start of this decade has been a big adjustment period for Azusa Pacific’s football program. It all started last week when the Athletics Department announced that 14-year head coach Victor Santa Cruz was leaving APU to become the next defensive coordinator for the University of Hawaii, an NCAA DI program. Then on Monday, offensive coordinator Rudy Carlton was named the next head coach of APU football.
The University of Hawaii is coach Santa Cruz’s alma mater, as he played linebacker for the Rainbow Warriors from 1990-94. He was a part of the Hawaii team in 1992 when they won the Western Athletic Conference championship and conquered Illinois in the Holiday Bowl. To this day, that squad is considered one of the school’s most prestigious teams, and they were inducted into Hawaii’s Sports Circle of Honor in 2017.
When offered the position, it was an opportunity that Santa Cruz couldn’t pass up.
“Hawaii helped shape me into the man and coach that I am, and this was an opportunity for me to return to that special place,” Santa Cruz said. “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.”
Santa Cruz leaves behind a big legacy, unmatched by coaches in APU football history. For five years he was an assistant coach for Pete Shinnick’s staff, and following Shinnick’s transition to UNC Pembroke, Santa Cruz was awarded the head job.
He coached with pride for 14 seasons as the winningest coach in APU football history, holding an overall record of 84-69 (.549 winning percentage). Along with this, Santa Cruz was also a major piece in advancing the program to NCAA DII from NAIA. Once in DII, Santa Cruz led the Cougars to four Great Northwest Athletic championships and two appearances in the NCAA playoffs.
The loss of such a prestigious figure within the Athletics Department is a transition that is destined to lead to a new era of Cougars football. Once the Santa Cruz departure became official, athletic director Gary Pine immediately went through the process of finding the program’s next head coach, the 10th in school history. Little did anyone know, the decision would only take a week to determine.
“If you would have told me 10 days ago that I would be up here introducing a new football coach to you, you would have caught my breath,” Pine said at the introductory press conference. “The support that I have received from [President] Paul Ferguson has been outstanding, and it only confirms the decision that we have made to move forward in the history of Azusa Pacific football.”
On Monday afternoon, Pine introduced Carlton as the next head coach for APU football. Carlton has been a part of Santa Cruz’s coaching staff since 2010, serving as an offensive coordinator throughout the decade.
Carlton’s offenses have found success several times throughout his tenure. In 2014, a year in which the team held a record of 10-1, Carlton’s offense was centered around running back Terrell Watson who went on to play in the NFL. During that campaign, Watson ran for a school-record 2,153 yards, leading all NCAA college football divisions with a rushing average of 195.7 yards per game.
In 2016 and 2018, both seasons that the Cougars made the NCAA playoffs, Carlton’s offense was highlighted by a tremendous passing attack. In 2016, APU quarterback Andrew Elfers was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year. He completed more than 60 percent of his passes that season, throwing for 2,123 yards, 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
In 2018, Carlton’s work with mobile quarterback Tyrone Williams Jr. led to a high powered offense that averaged 27.5 points per game. Williams threw for 2,679 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2018. Carlton paired this with a balanced rushing attack that saw three ball carriers (Williams, Bryce Grandison and Zikel Reddick) all rush for more than 400 yards during the campaign.
Beyond Cartlon’s coaching expertise, it was also his time as a quarterback for the Cougars that makes his dedication to APU’s program very apparent. He was a quarterback when Schinnick was at the helm, but earned the starting nod when Santa Cruz became head coach. Under Santa Cruz’s leadership in 2007, Carlton had his best season during his senior year throwing for 2,605 yards and 28 touchdown passes. In terms of all-time rankings for APU football, he ranks sixth in passing yards and fifth in touchdown passes and completions.
Carlton’s dedication to the APU tradition helped earn him the position, a tradition that is encompassed through strong faith and Christian morals.
“The primary factor towards this hire was that we found a person that would be a mission fit for Azusa Pacific. And that this person has strong evidence that Jesus Christ is the lord of their life,” said Pine. “The way they live their life and the decisions they make represent the belief that Christ is at the center of it all.”
His passion for the Cougars and the sport in general makes this Carlton’s dream job. For him, this is the top of the pilar.
“It was a year ago when I watched Peter Bond as he spoke and gave his speech on being the next head basketball coach at Azusa Pacific. And I was sitting there just dreaming of what it would be like to be in that same position,” Carlton said. “For me, this is a lot more than a job, more than a promotion. This is my dream job, and I’ve been hoping and looking forward to it for so long.”
Carlton thanked several people in his press conference speech. This included the coaches that influenced him as a player and a coach. One of these people was Santa Cruz.
“One of the best lessons Santa Cruz taught me was that when there is an amazing culture in place, you don’t necessarily need to come in and change everything. Instead, look to build on that,” Carlton said. “He helped me understand what it is like to lead through adversity, particularly when we began the year 0-7 in 2012 and he found a way to get the best out of his players and win the final four games of the year. Being around that and learning from that was so valuable towards me further developing as a coach.”
Carlton also thanked the players that he played with and those that he coached to success. He thanked all the friends and members of the community that he met throughout his years at APU.
Most importantly, Carlton shared his gratitude for his family that has continued to support him throughout his career in football. He put great emphasis on his wife. They are expecting a baby in March. In fact, Carlton found out about his hiring after receiving two calls from both Pine and Santa Cruz while he was attending a dinner after the family’s baby shower.
“I laughed when I thought ‘man, Lord don’t you realize when the baby is due? Is it really a good time for this?'” Carlton said. “But it was exciting stuff and I couldn’t really sit still when I found out.”
Despite hiring a new head coach, there are still questions surrounding the rest of the staff. Along with Santa Cruz, former defensive coordinator Cesar Rivas-Sandoval is also on the move, after he was hired as the new head coach of Southeastern University in Florida. There are several more holes that remain in this staff, particularly on defense. Those hires should be announced soon.
APU football is set up for lots of changes this year. Learning curves are destined to come, especially when considering the difficulty of the 2020 schedule. Next season, the Cougars will face Texas A&M Commerce, who made it to the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA Division II Championship bracket. Along with this, APU’s four other non-conference opponents collectively owned a record of 32-13 in 2019. It will certainly be a challenge, but a challenge that Carlton and his football team are ready to take head-on.
“Change is hard, but it tends to bring a lot of energy, especially when that transition happens so quickly,” Carlton said. “Despite last year not ending the way we wanted it to end, the players and staff all came together and got right back to work. There is a passion from our players to get better and better. I’m just excited for the next generation of Cougar football.”