After a short six-week engagement, Erin Hodina couldn’t wait to tell the head coach for the men’s soccer team, “I do.”
Two years ago, Erin DeClute (formerly Erin Hodina) was recruited as an assistant coach for the Gordon women’s soccer team by men’s head coach, Jake DeClute. Three months ago, DeClute proposed. The two coaches soon decided that a winter wedding was too far off.
“Originally we planned on a wedding in December,” said Hodina, “But we both realized we didn’t want to wait that long.”
Hodina graduated from Wheaton College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology. Hodina played four years of soccer for the Wheaton Thunder, collecting two NCAA National Championships during her time.
It was at Wheaton that she met her future husband, Jake DeClute, at that time the assistant men’s soccer coach for the Thunder. DeClute is now the head coach of the Gordon College men’s soccer team. During his undergrad years at Wheaton College, DeClute was a vital member of the 1997 National Championship team and also the 1999 team that went undefeated in 66 matches consecutively.
Declute was hired in 2007 as the head coach at Gordon, two years before he recommended Hodina for the women’s assistant position. Shortly following her arrival, the two started dating. After two years of dating, DeClute proposed to Hodina this past June at Ocean Lawn in Manchester by the Sea, MA. Hodina admits admitted she was surprised at the timing, but more than happy to accept.
Hodina and her new fiancé began looking at wedding dates when they realized how crazy their schedules were about to become. DeClute was planning for summer camps and the men’s missions trip to Brazil, not to mention both of them would be heading into the fall season in only two short months.
They only had one other choice, July 15th.
Devoted to their coaching jobs and wanting to give their time, attention and energy to their Fighting Scots in the fall season, the two coaches worked fast to put the wedding together. When Hodina and DeClute told their families and friends that they would be having a short six-week engagement they received nothing but confirmation. Hodina recalls that the most common response was, “That’s perfect for you guys.” Six weeks later the two coaches walked down the aisle in Chicago, Illinois, where they both grew up.
“Everything fell into place so quickly,” said Hodina.
The wedding was small, but that’s what they had hoped for. And though a few of their closest friends couldn’t make it, they went ahead with the planning.
Hodina did not regret their fast-paced engagement at all. She said that she loves married life. Instead of going back to two empty apartments after work, two of Gordon’s soccer experts go together to their very own home.
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