Lee University’s Torrey Stricklin will replace Todd Elkins as Biola’s men soccer head coach, starting with the fall 2020 season.
After Elkins’ shock resignation following Biola men’s soccer 2019 season, the team had a gaping hole in the coaching department. The future suddenly seemed uncertain for the Eagles, who were now without a leader. Enter Torrey Stricklin.
THE MAN FOR THE JOB
Biola Athletics filled the men’s soccer head coaching vacancy by hiring Stricklin, who leaves behind an assistant coaching position at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee after two seasons for the job here in La Mirada. In the 60-year history of the program, Stricklin has become the 10th coach at the helm for BU.
Stricklin spent four years at Gordon College in Massachusetts as a soccer player himself. In his senior season, he led the Fighting Scotts to a conference championship and a NCAA Division III National Tournament berth.
After his playing career ended, Stricklin began adding to his coaching repertoire at Brown University in Rhode Island. There, he served as an assistant coach for one year. His experience also extends beyond the college game, as he worked in player development in the New England Revolution Academy, a Major League Soccer-affiliated academy that cultivates young talent for college and professional level competition.
“Coach Stricklin has strong coaching expertise and spiritual leadership, and has demonstrated excellence in program administration,” said Athletic Director Bethany Miller in an email. “He cares deeply for the holistic development of student-athletes and discipling them during college.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Stricklin will be taking over an Eagles team that had an 8-7-3 overall record (6-3-2 PacWest) in the 2019 season. BU did not make the postseason last year, but advancing to their first PacWest tournament will surely be a goal of the new head coach this upcoming fall.
“Coach Stricklin will build upon the tradition of success of our Biola men’s soccer program,” Miller said. “He is a learner, a teacher and a strong recruiter, and we are looking forward to seeing our men’s soccer student-athletes thrive and reach new heights under his leadership in this next era of the program.”
