Rob Gurule Named New Head Men's Soccer Coach
At the end of each year, transition and change often occurs within an athletic program or coaching staff. As the 2023 school year concluded, Franklyn Joseph stepped down from his position as head men's soccer coach at Providence Christian College after serving as the head coach for two years. With that change Providence quickly moved and we are excited to announce the hiring of Robert Gurule as our new head men's soccer coach. Coach Gurule will be the fourth head coach in Sea Beggar program history and looks to build on the foundation laid by the previous three coaches.
Coach Gurule has a proven track record of success and building programs, as well as a rich history in the San Gabriel Valley. His deep connections to the high school, college, club, and professional level should reap dividends due to his many longstanding relationships in this arena. Coach Gurule is a highly respected coach, and he will infuse an immediate surge of energy into the program. He has high expectations for this team and especially from the team leaders. Coach Gurule hit the ground running and hopes to land several more recruits before the fall season rolls around. There is great excitement for what the future holds as we trust that coach Gurule and his staff will take this program to new heights in the years to come.
The men's soccer team had been coached by Joseph for the previous two seasons, but he felt called to step away following the 2023 season to spend more time with his wife and young children. Coach Joseph has a huge heart for our young men and will surely miss the daily interactions that coaching this team afforded him. Providence Christian College Director of Athletics Brian DeHaan said, "I'm appreciative for the two years Franklin invested at Providence and for his unwavering commitment to the spiritual and emotional health of our young men".
Coach Gurule will make the transition from Providence head men's and women's golf coach to men's head soccer coach and Director of Golf Operations. He will work alongside the new head golf coach to continue building the golf program while taking over the day-to-day coaching duties of the men's soccer team. Women's head soccer coach, Todd Elkins, will assume the role of Director of Soccer Operations and partner with coach Gurule with the oversight of both the men's and women's programs. Gurule has hired fellow local soccer coach Edgar Manvelyan to help assist the men's team. Manvelyan has a strong reputation in the soccer community and will be a great addition to the program. The partnership of these three outstanding coaches will help propel the Sea Beggars towards a strong trajectory forward. They will lead the young men with integrity and grit, helping prepare them for success not only on the field, but in life beyond college.
When asked about the opportunity to lead this program, coach Gurule said, "It is an honor to be given this opportunity, and as a coaching staff we look forward to the challenges ahead. The new school year is fast approaching, and I am genuinely excited to start this journey with the men's soccer program. The last couple of weeks, along with my assistant Edgar, recruiting has amped up. We were able to meet with the team and follow up individually. All impressions have been positive." Gurule expanded on what the next steps will look like saying, "To start July, we have sent out a fitness program outlining this month's goals in preparation for our first weeks back training. The hope as a program and staff, is to be able to bring in the missing pieces, to fortify the base that we already have. Additionally, we will begin to formulate our identity. As I start to pencil out our objectives, 'Purpose' is paramount, in all that we do. At the forefront is being exemplary, Christian, student-athletes. It is often said that Soccer/Futbol is not just a sport, but rather it is a passion. It is our hope that this passion translates fully as we practice and compete to honor our Lord and Savior. Soccer in its simplest form is 'the beautiful game' and in its intricacies, it is a passionate platform: providing far reaching opportunities as student-athletes, competitors and ultimately, as Christians. May the passion we devote ourselves to this season become the Joy we experience, and the strength we rely on, knowing that pure joy only comes from the Lord."