Young soccer players in Logan honor beloved coach, police officer Eric Estrada

LOGAN — On the soccer field at River Heights Elementary School, the memory of officer Eric Estrada lives on — not just in the drills and plays he once taught, but in the hearts of the young girls he coached.

"He was really nice. He taught me a lot, and I learned a lot from him," said 9-year-old Sloan Oman, one of Estrada's former players.

Estrada, a police officer and volunteer soccer coach, is being remembered for the kindness, patience and positivity he brought to the field. His players say he wasn't just a coach; he was a mentor who helped them grow both on and off the field.

"He was a really good coach, and I loved having him as a coach," 10-year-old Kamille Chandler said.

The girls describe Estrada as someone who made them feel seen and supported. He encouraged them to speak up, spread out and move with confidence — skills that extended beyond soccer.

"He talked to us and helped us learn how to correct things," one player shared. "Eric was always positive and liked to help us when we messed up."

Now, the team is grappling with the loss of their coach.

"Sad," one girl said simply, summing up what many of her teammates feel.

In their grief, the team found a way to honor Estrada. They wrote heartfelt notes to his family — messages filled with love, sympathy and gratitude.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you feel better," one note read.

"I wrote that I was really sorry with what happened, and I hope she gets better," another player added.

"It's sad, but I feel like they'll like everything that we give them," said one teammate.

The loss has had a profound impact on the team. Head coach Robert Chandler says he still struggles to believe Estrada is gone.

"I was in shock. I still don't believe it. It should've never happened," Chandler said.

He remembers Estrada as a coach who went above and beyond — learning each player's name, studying their footwork, and investing his time and heart into their development.

"I often coached the team, while he coached them individually," Chandler said. "He really invested his time and his effort."

Now, before every home game, the team observes 20 seconds of silence in Estrada's honor — a quiet tribute to a man who made a lasting impact.

"It was not about a game. It was not about a badge. It wasn't about acknowledgment," Chandler said. "It was about — I'm here because I care."

As the season continues, so does Estrada's legacy — carried forward by the young players who remember him not just as a coach, but as someone who truly cared.

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