Years ago, Ernesto Cruz attended a barbeque in the Paly parking lot for the World Cup. He pointed over to the Paly facilities and said, “I’m going to work there one day.” To this day, he fulfilled exactly what he stated he would do.

The El Salvador native started out as a construction worker only to turn into the Paly girls’ varsity soccer coach and Paly campus supervisor, using his personality and genuine care to charm those around him.

Cruz came to Paly five years ago by coincidence. Cruz passed through Paly in his pick-up truck on the same day athletic director and head varsity football coach Earl Hansen was strolling around campus. Cruz later found that this was an unusual sight considering it was during football season, which usually absorbs much of Hansen’s time and attention.

A fellow club soccer parent had told Cruz of an opening for the position of head girls’ varsity soccer coach, so he asked Hansen about the job. That same day, Cruz booked himself an interview with Hansen and two weeks later, got the job.

Born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador, Cruz played soccer all his life on various competitive teams. At age 19, he left San Salvador to come to the U.S. due to a civil war that consumed the country. Cruz said he left simply because that was what everybody was doing.

“I had to start over here – no English, no language,” Cruz said. “I had to start from scratch.”

Before coming to Paly, Cruz served as an assistant coach for the junior varsity team for a year and as head coach of junior varsity for two years at Woodside. He also still coaches for club teams, so he is surrounded by soccer all year round. According to Cruz, coming to Paly was a blessing for him.

“Paly changed my life,” Cruz said.

Hansen saw Cruz searching for another job in the newspaper, since his construction company was moving to East Bay, California. So, Hansen helped him out once again to get a job as campus supervisor, a job that gave Cruz school-wide recognition.

“Just walking around the school he talks to everybody,” girls’ varsity soccer starting forward and team co-captain Kelly Jenks (’10) said. “He’s really popular.”

Cruz keeps good relationships with his co-workers, like assistant principal Jerry Berkson, as well.

“He’s a great guy,” Berkson said. “We do a lot of smack talk back and forth, me being anti-soccer and him anti-baseball.”

The smack talk or, as Berkson put it, constant banter, is naturally all in fun. Berkson said that he and Cruz extend beyond just an employee-boss relationship.

“I invite him over to dinner at my house and he will even do work on my house,” Berkson said.

Cruz also extends beyond his job title of campus supervisor. According to Berkson, Cruz will help out with any minor construction around campus within his ability, in addition to picking up garbage, helping out the custodians during the day, supervising at Prom each year and assisting at Saturday school.

“He would take the shirt off his back for anyone who needs it,” Berkson said. “He’s a good guy to have on your side.”

Cruz’s personable nature around campus translates to his coaching style on the soccer field.

“He is really energetic and the thing about Ernesto is that he loves Paly more than anything,” starting center-midfielder Emy Kelty (’12) said. “It is good for our team to have someone so passionate and with such a big heart.”

Cruz feels he sees a high quality group of kids every year on the team that are all-around well-educated students, good kids and impressive athletes.

“There is a lot of talent every season. They are tremendous kids,” Cruz said. “I have no complaints.”

Jenks spent all four years of her soccer career alongside Cruz. She feels that she benefits from his support and encouragement, such as giving her and teammate co-captain and forward Maeve Stewart (’10) playing time as varsity freshmen and fair treatment that built up the girls’ confidence.

Jenks remembers Cruz encouraging her to take the ball and to take people on, which she said is exactly what she needed to hear during her first year.

This healthy environment made transitioning to varsity a smoother process for Jenks, but this was not what Jenks expected when she first met Cruz at a club soccer game when she was in eighth grade.

“I was really intimidated, since he was the varsity coach and varsity seemed super intense, so I was super shy,” Jenks said. “But, he’s totally not like that at all.”

Cruz uses his friendly character to hold the team together and motivate the girls. According to Kelty, his invariable smile and aura of happiness allows him to connect with his players and even cheer up their moods.

“I think what makes him a good coach is he really knows his players well,” Kelty said. “He has a strong bond with the girls.”

Jenks and Kelty agree that Cruz differs greatly in comparison to their club coaches. Instead of pushing them to the edge with intensity and pressure, Cruz is more chill, laid back and concerned with being out there on the field every day to be with the team.

“He holds the team together,” Jenks said. “He’s a good guy for a high school coach because he is so outgoing.”

Cruz’s upbeat personality keeps him ready to get back on the field with the team members whenever he can.

Jenks recalls one time when Cruz asked her if she wanted to practice her shooting more on a Saturday, an unusual suggestion considering they do not normally practice on weekends. So, Jenks and goal keeper Alex Kershner (’11) went out with Cruz and practiced for about an hour and a half.

“He’s willing to work extra, and he totally didn’t need to do that,” Jenks said, referring to the shooting practice.

Jenks also acknowledges how Cruz stays late after practices to work with her whenever she feels the need to give a certain skill a little more time. Jenks gains a sense of trust from the way Cruz seems to really care for the team.

This makes her want to check up with him after club season and she readily called him up when she got accepted to Santa Clara University to play soccer. Naturally, he expressed much excitement for her.

“He is always happy,” Kelty said. “He loves his family, he loves the school and he loves the team.”

Cruz stayed fairly vague about his future as a coach at Paly, simply said that if he is doing his job well, he will stay and continue to coach.

Regardless of how long Cruz chooses to stay at Paly, Paly spirit will run in his blood no matter what. Just as Cruz said during his interview, he will always be a true believer in the phrase, “Green and white forever.”