On November 4, 2026, the Dallas Independent School District announced that Daniel Cruz, head coach at Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School, has led the school's soccer team to become the first Dallas ISD boys' soccer team to reach the state semifinals this summer. Cruz, a Dallas ISD graduate, has been coaching at Pinkston for four years and is working with nearly 100 students to develop their passion for soccer.

Press Release: Dallas Independent School District

Published November 4, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Dallas Independent School District.

Pinkston coach leads soccer team to make history

Jirah Fleming

A Dallas ISD graduate, Daniel Cruz returned to the district to coach the sport he has loved since childhood.

As head coach at Dr. L.G. Pinkston Sr. High School, he is helping nearly 100 students develop their own passion for soccer. And, in the four years he has been at Pinkston, Cruz led the school’s soccer team to become the first Dallas ISD boys' soccer team to reach the state semifinals this summer.

“The bar is high now,” he said. “The goal is to make it back to state again. Every season is a new season, so we just play hard every game and take it one step at a time. We build from each game, and hopefully we can beat our last record and make it to the state finals to eventually bring the first state title in soccer to Dallas ISD.”

Cruz graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 2012, where he played soccer. After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas he began a career in coaching as a coordinator at E.B. Comstock Middle School, where he led the team to district titles.

“I always knew I wanted to be a coach,” he said. “As a student athlete, I made it to the regional semifinals, and we were close to making it to the finals. I knew I wanted to come back and experience that again, this time as a coach."

In just a few years, the Pinkston program now has enough students for three teams. Cruz credits its growth and success to the players’ trust in his game plan and his ability to connect with students who speak Spanish, eliminating the language barrier.

“The main thing here is we want to instill discipline, hard work and commitment,” Cruz said. “I just wanted to motivate students and inspire them, so they can reach their goals. I want them to believe that anything is possible if they just put their minds to it.”

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