DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After spending 21 of the last 25 years involved with Embry-Riddle men's soccer, Assistant Coach
John Haworth is heading up I-95 to take the reins of the men's soccer program at SCAD Savannah. The Bees' Athletic Director Doug Wollenburg made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon.
"This has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make, because I truly love this program," said Haworth. "I am eternally grateful to Head Coach
David Gregson who took a chance on me in 2002, when I had no coaching experience, and gave me some of the most wonderful memories on the pitch. He has taken a complete novice and helped him achieve some of his goals. His impact on my life cannot be understated."
Gregson said, "I am incredibly thrilled for John, Amy and his family to take this next exciting jump to a new chapter in their lives. He fully deserves this opportunity, and it's great to see one of our own make the jump into having a chance to lead his own college soccer program. I recruited John in 1997, and he has been connected substantially as a player and coach to our program for over 25 years now."
Haworth first stepped on ERAU's campus in 1997 as a student-athlete. Over five seasons as a member of the Blue and Gold, he took to the pitch 33 times and scored on 13 occasions while assisting Embry-Riddle to a conference tournament title in 1998, regular season crown a year later, and a pair of regional titles in 1999 and 2001.
Following his collegiate career, Haworth remained with the program as an assistant coach for the 2002 and 2003 campaigns where he helped the Eagles reach the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals for the first time in program history and set multiple program single-season records including wins (18), winning percentage (.880), and conference winning percentage (.950).
In 2004, he received his first head coaching opportunity at Webber International, where he remained for four seasons before returning to the Eagles as an assistant coach in the summer of 2008.
Throughout the last 14 seasons, Haworth worked alongside Gregson and aided the Eagles to a winning record in six consecutive winning seasons, three conference titles, two conference tournament championships, and a successful transition to the NCAA II.
Haworth added, "To all the alumni that have been through the program, I salute you for your dedication and effort. I will try and do you all proud in my next endeavor, and I will always be one of you. It is a testament to the people in and around the program that this is one of my saddest days, saying goodbye."
"John will forever be intertwined with the history of this amazing program, and I know he will be the first one looking up our results this year," Gregson said. "He has been an amazing assistant, confidant, colleague and mate, and I will miss him dearly. However, this day always has to come, and we reluctantly have to say goodbye to an amazing person.
Goodbye and good luck to a proper legend!"
The Embry-Riddle Athletics Administration will convene a search to identify the men's soccer program's next assistant coach.
The 2022 Embry-Riddle Men's Soccer season is presented by Radiology Associates.
