Digger Hawkins Named Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
6/17/2010 4:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. – Head coach Bruce Erickson of the Creighton women's soccer team has named Digger Hawkins an assistant coach on his staff. Hawkins is currently the Director of Coaching at the Gretna Soccer Club and a staff member for the Nebraska Olympic Development Program (ODP).
“Digger is a great addition to our staff,” said Erickson of the hire. “I have watched him coach within the Olympic Development Program and he has done an exceptional job. He has a great eye for talent and he teaches the game with great enthusiasm and passion. Digger is a great asset to our program.”
Hawkins, a native of Portsmouth, England, has been coaching in Nebraska since 2005. He started as a professional trainer at the Gretna Soccer Club before becoming the Director of Coaching in May 2009. Since he started working with the Gretna program, he has helped lead it to the Nebraska Soccer League Premier Division championship and coached several athletes which have gone on to earn Division I scholarships.
As part of the Nebraska ODP, he helped identify and recruit the best talent across the state for the program and is currently the head coach of the Nebraska '93, '96 and '98 ODP teams. In 2008, Hawkins led the first Nebraska girls team to ever win the Region II ODP Championship, helping him later earn the title of Nebraska Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. He arrived in Omaha after a two-year stint as the Technical Director of the Asian Soccer Academy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He owns several coaching licenses from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the Union of European Football Associatons (UEFA).
“I have known the coaching staff for over four years, having worked with the current staff at ODP and I have the utmost respect for them and the Creighton program,” said Hawkins. “I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and the players on a daily basis and am thrilled to be a part of Creighton University and the soccer program.”
Hawkins is not only a well established coach, but he was a talented player growing up in England. At the age of 13 he signed a Youth Training Scheme and professional contract with Portsmouth FC of the English Premier League (EPL). He progressed through the youth ranks, to the reserve team and eventually the first team before a back injury brought an end to his playing career. He then went on to receive an undergraduate degree in sports studies at the University of Chichester and a masters degree in information systems at the University of Portsmouth.
Hawkins replaces Matt Howe on the Bluejay coaching staff, which is led by Erickson and includes assistant Ileana Moschos and volunteer assistant Ivonne Valentin. The Bluejays open the season with an exhibition match at Morrison Stadium on Aug. 8. The regular-season begins on Aug. 20 when the Jays host South Dakota State at Morrison Stadium.
“Digger is a great addition to our staff,” said Erickson of the hire. “I have watched him coach within the Olympic Development Program and he has done an exceptional job. He has a great eye for talent and he teaches the game with great enthusiasm and passion. Digger is a great asset to our program.”
Hawkins, a native of Portsmouth, England, has been coaching in Nebraska since 2005. He started as a professional trainer at the Gretna Soccer Club before becoming the Director of Coaching in May 2009. Since he started working with the Gretna program, he has helped lead it to the Nebraska Soccer League Premier Division championship and coached several athletes which have gone on to earn Division I scholarships.
As part of the Nebraska ODP, he helped identify and recruit the best talent across the state for the program and is currently the head coach of the Nebraska '93, '96 and '98 ODP teams. In 2008, Hawkins led the first Nebraska girls team to ever win the Region II ODP Championship, helping him later earn the title of Nebraska Girls Competitive Coach of the Year. He arrived in Omaha after a two-year stint as the Technical Director of the Asian Soccer Academy in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He owns several coaching licenses from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the Union of European Football Associatons (UEFA).
“I have known the coaching staff for over four years, having worked with the current staff at ODP and I have the utmost respect for them and the Creighton program,” said Hawkins. “I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and the players on a daily basis and am thrilled to be a part of Creighton University and the soccer program.”
Hawkins is not only a well established coach, but he was a talented player growing up in England. At the age of 13 he signed a Youth Training Scheme and professional contract with Portsmouth FC of the English Premier League (EPL). He progressed through the youth ranks, to the reserve team and eventually the first team before a back injury brought an end to his playing career. He then went on to receive an undergraduate degree in sports studies at the University of Chichester and a masters degree in information systems at the University of Portsmouth.
Hawkins replaces Matt Howe on the Bluejay coaching staff, which is led by Erickson and includes assistant Ileana Moschos and volunteer assistant Ivonne Valentin. The Bluejays open the season with an exhibition match at Morrison Stadium on Aug. 8. The regular-season begins on Aug. 20 when the Jays host South Dakota State at Morrison Stadium.
Creighton Women's Soccer Media Availability - 10/29/25
Wednesday, October 29
Creighton Women's Soccer Highlights at Butler - 10-25-25
Sunday, October 26
Creighton Women's Soccer Postgame vs. Seton Hall, 10/22/25
Thursday, October 23
Creighton Women's Soccer Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 10/22/25
Thursday, October 23
