Family, friends, colleagues and former players are mourning the loss of longtime Brentwood High School boys soccer coach Ron Eden, a beloved figure who spent decades shaping the lives of student-athletes on and off the field.

Eden led Brentwood soccer to multiple state championships and countless victories during a coaching career that left a lasting impact across Long Island. Former players say his influence extended far beyond soccer, helping generations of young men develop character, discipline and life skills.

“He was a huge part of the soccer community all throughout Long Island,” said Francisco Herrera, a former Brentwood player. “So many people knew his name, and he'll be sorely missed.”

Herrera said Eden, a devoted husband and father, inspired generations of students through his leadership and commitment to his players.

“There were times the last thing I wanted to do was kick around a soccer ball at practice,” former player Diego Argueta said. “But he made it comfortable and made it a welcoming place always.”

Those who knew Eden say his success as a coach was matched by his dedication to mentoring young people.

Former player Alvaro Phan described Eden as a father figure whose influence reached well beyond the game.

“He's not just a coach. He's impacted the lives of a lot of guys,” Phan said. “He became a father figure, someone that you looked up to.”

Former player Stalyn Acosta said Eden instilled values that continue to guide him today.

“Those morals, that hard work, that grit, being tough, he installed that in me,” Acosta said.

Joel Iglesias, an assistant coach with Brentwood's varsity program, said Eden consistently emphasized that soccer was only part of the mission.

“He would tell us, ‘It's more than soccer here. We want these kids to grow up to be good fathers, good brothers, good husbands,’” Iglesias recalled.

Former players say Eden's legacy will endure through the countless lives he touched and the lessons he taught.

In a 2023 interview with News 12, Eden summed up his coaching philosophy this way: “I would think the more things we give them to prepare them for life, the better off they're going to be.”