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Eric Yamamoto just finished his 17th season as assistant coach for Santa Clara in 2007. He has been a mainstay at Santa Clara, dating back to 1986 when he wore the Bronco uniform, and now as the top assistant for the men's team. He spent most of the 1990's as the goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's squads. Yamamoto brings organization, dedication and commitment to the Bronco family. He earned All-America status as a goalkeeper, setting Bronco records with a 0.63 goals-against average and 38 shutouts as Santa Clara charged to the nation's top ranking and the NCAA co-championship during his senior season in 1989. Yamamoto, a four-year starter and three-time Academic All-American, anchored a stingy defense that allowed just 10 goals while posting a 20-0-3 record en route to the nation's No. 1 ranking. Since his graduation from Santa Clara, Yamamoto has worked with both men's and women's programs as their goalkeeper coach. He has trained such standouts as 1992 WCC Defensive MVP Sue Wall, 1995 All-America men's goalkeeper Joe Cannon, 1998 WCC Defensive Player of the Year David Alexander, 2000 WCC Defender of the Year Jeff Stewart, and All-WCC netminder Rusty Johnson. Since the formation of the West Coast Conference for women's soccer, Santa Clara featured the league's toughest defense in six of the first eight seasons, all with Yamamoto coaching the Bronco keepers. In 2001, he helped the women's squad capture their first-ever National Championship, as the Broncos shutout perennial powerhouse, North Carolina, 1-0. As a member of the U.S. National Team coaching staff, Yamamoto has worked with many of the top U.S. goalkeepers, most recently with the U.S. Women's National Team. He also coaches numerous U.S. National Youth Teams on both the boys and girls sides. Most recently, he has served as the assistant coach for the U.S. U-18 men's team. In the summer of 2007, he was part of the Pan Am Games in Brazil with the U-18s. He was married in December of 2000. He and his wife, Julie, currently reside in San Jose with their daughter, Malia. |
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