With over 10 years of collegiate head coaching experience, Croft comes to the Panthers after spearheading the Akron’s women’s soccer program for the past three seasons, serving as the interim head coach in 2012 before dropping the title for head coach in 2013 and 2014. He guided the Zips to one of its most successful seasons in 2012 when the team tied the Akron record for points and assists in a single season, in addition to leading a school-record five players to All-Mid-American Conference postseason accolades.
“We think we have made an incredible hire with Coach Croft,” Chestnutt said. “To have someone with his experience and knowledge of the game is only going to make us better. We’re really excited to get working together.”
“I’m excited to be back in South Florida, especially with the opportunity to work with a program that is as successful as FIU. The chance to be on staff with someone of Thomas’ success and knowledge was a no-brainer for me, in addition to having the chance to work with (Assistant Coach) Lauren (Singer), this time in a coaching capacity, made it an even better situation.”
Croft came to the Northeast Ohio region after a two-year stint (2010-11) as an assistant coach at Miami (Fla.) and played a major role in the program’s recruiting efforts. Before his time with the Hurricanes, he served nine seasons as Indiana State’s head coach (2000-2008). He exited as the Sycamores all-time winningest coach and led ISU to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship game in 2008, in addition to being named the MVC Coach of the Year in 2004. His time in Terre Haute saw Croft coach 15 all-conference winners, one MVC Freshman of the Year and eight MVC All-Tournament honorees, in addition to nine-straight seasons with NSCAA Team Academic Awards, which included a No. 1 ranking in 2004.
The 2008 season featured Croft and the Sycamores reaching the MVC Conference finals, the deepest postseason run in program history. His squad also won the Athletic Director’s Cup with the highest GPA of 3.62, as the team received the NCSAA Team Academic Award the then-eighth-straight season. During the 2007 campaign, he coached four All-Conference performers, while the 2006 season featured Lauren Podolski, the lone active MVC athlete named to the All-Centennial Team.
The 2005 campaign was highlighted by a 2-1 win over nationally-ranked Illinois, which marked the first win for ISU over a Big Ten program. Croft and the Sycamores went on to advance to the MVC Conference Tournament for the second-straight season. A program-record five players pulled All-Conference honors following the season.
Highlighting the importance of education in addition to soccer, Croft built a program that earned the 2003-04 No. 1 academic ranking among all Division I programs(3.54 team GPA), per the NSCAA. It marked the fourth-straight year Croft’s team was recognized by the NSCAA and also served as the fourth-straight season ISU led the MVC in the category. Croft was named the 2004 Co-Coach of the Year for his accomplishments.
Three Sycamores earned All-Conference honors in 2003 and held opponents to a then-school-best 29 goals on the season. The 2002 campaign featured Croft coaching his squad to a then-school record seven victories and landed three players on the All-MVC team. After doubling the program’s wins total in the 2001 season, ISU was the lone MVC school recognized nationally for its improvements, as four were named to the All-MVC team.
In ISU’s inaugural season in 2000, Croft and the Sycamores were ranked No. 5 nationally among first-year programs, according to Soccer Buzz. He also landed two players on the Soccer Buzz First-Year Programs All-National Team. Croft took the team to the MVC Tournament.
Croft came to Indiana State with solid experience in building programs from the ground level, having served at Missouri State, where he assisted in launching the Lady Bears soccer program. In his four seasons with MSU, the Lady Bears made appearances in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and advanced to the semifinals all four years, highlighted by the team’s championship appearance in 1999. While at the Springfield, Mo., institution, Croft also served as the men’s goalkeeper coach from 1996-97 which finished its season ranked No. 12 in the nation.
Prior to MSU, Croft served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Widener University in Chester, Pa., helping begin the women’s soccer program from 1995-96. He helped guide the Pioneers to a second-place finish in the Middle Atlantic Conference with a 15-2-1 record and a berth in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and a No. 4 regional ranking.
Prior to beginning his coaching career at Lynchburg College in 1994, Croft played collegiate soccer at Rider University, before he transferred to Lynchburg, where he was a two-time captain and set the school record for most saves in a career.
A native of Fairfax, Va., he earned his bachelor’s degree in health, movement science and recreation in 1994 and served two seasons in the United Systems Independent Soccer League. He currently holds licenses from the NSCAA and United States Soccer Federation.
