Traffichounds

Yorba Linda High School Women’s Soccer

Erica Schmaltz

Junior Varsity Head Coach

Family: I was brought up in a Christian family with amazing parents-Dave & Diane Richey, I have 2 brothers and 1 sister (I’m the 3rd born out of the 4). I am married to the most amazing MAN EVER!!! I just love HIM!!! I have the cutest son ever, Carver, who has brought so much joy to our lives!

School’s: Dana Hills High School, Saddleback College, Biola University & Talbot School of Theology

Soccer: I started playing soccer in the 3rd grade, went club in the 5th – started off playing for So Cal Blues for 5 years then played for Laguna Niguel Storm (1 year) and then San Juan Soccer Club (1 year). Played all 4 years on varsity soccer as a DOLPHIN! I didn’t play my freshman year in college, I thought I was done, put all my focus in pursuing ministry, then as God would have it He had another plan and I was asked to come back and coach for my alma mater. I was the head coach of the Frosh/Soph team at DHHS and I absolutely loved it! God had given me an even greater and bigger passion for the game of soccer in my life. From there I decided to go out for Saddleback’s soccer team my sophomore year and continue to coach at Dana. I played my sophomore year at Saddleback and coached Dana’s JV team. From there I got accepted to Biola University and I decided to see if I could walk on to their team. I ended up playing 3 years of soccer at Biola, some of the best years of my life! I also continued to coach as well, Dana’s JV team, while going to school and pursuing my dreams of working full time in ministry. After graduating Biola in December 2005, I got hired on full time at Friend’s Church Feb 2006 and moved to Yorba Linda. I coached one last season at DHHS 2006-207 and then started to see what other soccer adventure’s God would open up for me in Yorba Linda.

I decided to help out where I started my soccer roots in AYSO, and coached there and then God opened another door for me with the opportunity to help coach at this amazing NEW high school in Yorba Linda and it was and has been such a great privilege to join this awesome coaching staff in the fall of 2009. I’m very excited to see this program soar to great heights and accomplishments and I feel blessed to be a MUSTANG!

Interests/Hobbies: Other than soccer, which is a huge passion…anything outdoors, from the beach and surfing to the mountains snowboarding-spending time in God’s creation just energizes me…I love spending time with family and friends and just cruising around Disneyland.