Stewart Craig was a member of ERAU men's soccer team from 1995-98, anchoring the Eagles' back line as a central defender. Craig, who was the team captain for three of his four seasons in the Eagle uniform, helped put ERAU men's soccer on the map, bringing the program from the bottom of the conference and laying the foundation for the success the men's soccer team has enjoyed to date.
Originally from Derby, England, Craig is the first ERAU men's soccer student-athlete to earn recognition for his performance on the field. He was named to the All-Conference roster in each of his four seasons and was a four-time honorable mention All-American honoree.
Craig ended his career on a high note, leading the Eagles to the 1998 conference championship, which ERAU won in Craig's final game at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium. While his primary responsibility was to shore up the Eagles' defense, Craig was also a factor offensively, finishing with 26 points on 11 goals and four assists in his four-year career. He currently ranks seventh all-time in the ERAU record books in games played with 75.
Craig also excelled in the classroom and was named an Academic All-Conference selection four times and an NAIA All-America Scholar Athlete on three occasions. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a degree in Aviation Business Administration in 1999 and is now the owner of Fashion Sushi in Marbella, Spain.
“I inherited the captaincy of the team from Stew in 1999. By then he had imprinted his personality as a winner in all aspects onto the squad. He transformed the mentality of the team from conference also-rans into conference favorites within his tenure and I believe that he is the reason that Embry-Riddle soccer was able to rise to national prominence from such humble beginnings.
“The highest compliment I can pay Stew as a player is that still to this day he would walk onto any of the teams that have followed his tenure. His playing ability was second to none but his strength of personality is what really set him apart. His willingness to lead through tough times and set himself and his teammates' goals and standards at the time and for future student-athletes to try and match was outstanding.”
Phil Jones
Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer (1999-02)“Stewart made me feel very welcome at Embry-Riddle when I arrived. We spent a lot of time together on and off the field. At the time we both had similar circumstances. We had to work all day in Records and Registration on campus to help pay our living expenses and we rarely could afford to fly home to our families. Looking back, it's amazing how great of a time we had at Embry-Riddle considering our financial circumstances! Stewart really appreciated the opportunity he had been given and he made the most of it. In my opinion he was the complete package - student, athlete and person. Academically Stewart was in a different class. Everything came naturally to him in the classroom. He was the smartest player on our team without question.”
Dan McNally
Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer (1996-99)“Stew is a man of character and integrity. He holds the highest moral standards and does the right thing for the right reason. I would trust Stew in any situation to uphold the highest standards of personal conduct and demeanor. He is not afraid of criticism and takes it as personal challenge. One of his outstanding traits is task persistence. He will delve into the challenge completely and persist until the task is completed.”
David Gregson
Embry-Riddle Head Men's Soccer Coach (1994-present)“Both on and off the field, Stewart exhibited a very sharp sense of humor and was quick-witted; he seemed to make people relax in tense situations without losing focus. Stewart had maturity beyond his years and was the person who kept everything in perspective for his younger teammates. I was lucky enough to play on the same team as Stewart and I am a much richer person for that experience.”
John Haworth
Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer (1997-01)
Embry-Riddle Asst. Men's Soccer Coach (2002-03, 2008-present)
