He’s been with GCU Club Sports for six years, and in that time, there’s not much Damian Tule’ hasn’t tried to do and accomplished. Tule’s latest rung on the ladder is something he’s hoped for as he heads into his first full year as head coach of the GCU Men’s Club Soccer program after taking over the position last winter.
Taking the position brought Tule’ full circle with the program, since his first taste of GCU Club Sports was as a freshman player for the Lopes’ Club Soccer squad in the fall of 2018. Tule’ helped lead the burgeoning program to back-to-back appearances at the NIRSA Region VI Soccer Tournament in his freshman and sophomore campaigns, back-to-back Southwest Collegiate Soccer League titles his sophomore and junior years, and a spot in the championship match of the 2021 Aztec Cup as a senior.
After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and Marketing from GCU in 2022, Tule’ went from student leader to graduate student and assistant coach, first for both the men and the Lopes’ Women’s Club Soccer team in 2022, then last season for just the women, helping the teams earn multiple titles in the Southwest Soccer Association and Aztec Cup, and helping both teams reach NIRSA Regionals. Tule’ then moved back over to the men’s side as an interim head coach last January. While Tule’ has steadily working toward his Master’s in Project Management, he was also helping out with administrative tasks, game operations and the leadership program within the club sports program, and continues to do so today.
Tule’ didn’t wait until he arrived at GCU to show his work ethic, though. A native of Dallas, Texas, Tule’ first showed his prowess on the pitch at the tender age of 4, and throughout his young life, excelled on such club teams as FC Dallas, the Dallas Texans SC and Liverpool FC. Tule’ graduated from A. Maceo Smith New Tech High School in the Lone Star State before leaving the nest for the first time to head to Phoenix and GCU.
