Late Brentwood boys soccer coach Ron Eden inducted into the state boys soccer Hall of Fame

MIDDLETOWN — Brentwood coach Ron Eden won three of his four state titles at Middletown High School, most recently in 2023 with an undefeated team that led United Soccer Coaches to name him as its national coach of the year.

It’s only fitting that the legendary coach, who died suddenly in July at age 72 after battling prostate cancer, would earn one more honor at the school’s Faller Field.

Eden was inducted into the NYSPHSAA boys soccer Hall of Fame Saturday, with his wife Jeanette and 15 other members of the Eden family showing up in Middletown to represent him. He was unanimously voted in.

I’m really proud of him,” Jeanette Eden said. “I wish he was here… I wish it had happened sooner, but nobody can predict the future.”

Eden took over Brentwood’s boys soccer program in 1996 and led it to 17 league titles, 11 Suffolk championships, 10 Long Island championships and state titles in 2008, 2010, 2019 and 2023. Brentwood reached three other state finals under Eden, who held a 484-70-32 record as head coach.

Eden’s former assistants Joel Iglesias and Francisco Herrera also made the trip. Coaches must be retired to qualify for the Hall of Fame — the only reason a coach of Eden’s caliber wasn’t in already — which led Half Hollow Hills West coach Doug Gannon to nominate the Brentwood legend shortly after his passing.

“You come up here to the state tournament, and everyone knows Brentwood, everyone knew Coach Eden and the impact that he had on that community and that team,” Gannon said.

The family also received a gold “NYS Soccer 2026 Hall of Fame” ring, with Eden’s name etched on the side. It’s another symbol of success to add to the cabinet of a man who had plenty of it, but most enjoyed watching his players thrive in the next stage of life.

“Brentwood is the gold standard in Section XI and New York State,” Gannon said. “It’s based on their championships, but it’s also based on how Ronnie’s players would carry themselves up here in terms of sportsmanship, in terms of how hard they played and how well they represented the Brentwood jersey.”