IRVINE - In one of the most underreported yet high-profile coaching changes in National Independent Soccer Association history, Don Ebert is officially out and Willie Diaz now is head coach of California United Strikers FC. Diaz, previously Ebert’s lead assistant, already has led Cal United Strikers FC in three league matches this season and will remain the team’s head coach for at least the remainder of the 2022 season, Cal United Strikers FC President Michael Collins confirmed on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

“Don is an instrumental part of what we’ve built here (and) it’s still not the right time to discuss it all but Willie is the coach now,” Collins said.

Ebert, the team’s coach since its arrival in NISA, remains Director of Coaching at Strikers FC, the club’s youth partner. He departed Cal United Strikers FC by mutual agreement.

“He’ll stay focused on the youth and international recruitments,” Collins said.

Ebert missed a match earlier in the NISA season following the death of a family member, but his permanent absence from the sideline was first noticed Sept. 24 against L.A. Force. He has not been on the touchline for Cal United Strikers FC since Sept. 4 at Chattanooga FC.

Diaz holds a USSF ‘A’ coaching license and concurrently leads Strikers FC’s MLS Next team, also based in Irvine.

Collins said it had been, “in the works”, to have Diaz take over from Ebert following this season. “We were planning, in 2023, for Willie Diaz to be the head coach so he was being groomed for that position.“

Emails to both Diaz and Ebert were not immediately returned.

Diaz is 2-0-1 since taking over for Ebert, including a 2-0 victory over Maryland Bobcats on Oct. 5 to secure the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming NISA playoffs.

Ebert’s exit was surprising to most NISA fans.

Ebert, known as “Mad Hatter” during his playing career, scored three goals in four matches as captain of the United States’ men’s soccer team that qualified for the boycotted 1980 Olympics. He went on to total nearly 300 goals in just nine seasons playing for the St. Louis Steamers and Los Angeles Lazers of the now-defunct Major Indoor Soccer League.

Pope is a professional sports writer and commentator based in Southern California. Follow him at @DennisPope on Twitter.