At every level of competition, starring on the soccer field has always come naturally for Ernst Cleophat. He played the sport with a certain passion and spirit, style, and grace—appearing one giant step ahead of everyone else.

Born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Cleophat played club and professional soccer in his homeland and in Brazil between the ages of 16 and 32. Upon moving to America, he attended Boston English High School, where his scoring skills provided successful seasons for English High in the highly competitive Boston City League.

Cleophat’s dominance on the soccer field continued throughout his collegiate career. In his freshman season at Suffolk University, he scored 23 goals (11 in a 10-game stretch), something that’s never been repeated by a player in school history.

He averaged a goal a game during his stellar career for the Rams, highlighted by his three-goal game in a 3–0 defeat of Division I Northeastern University.

Cleophat, who was a threat to put the ball in the net at any time, is one of Suffolk’s all-time leading  scorers. The talented striker and team captain also earned the school’s Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Player Awards, as well as receiving Conference Player of the Year, Conference Rookie of the Year, and Conference Player of the Week honors (the latter distinction bestowed upon him many times).

Cleophat is now head coach of the women’s soccer team at Suffolk, a program he launched in 2005 as a club team before elevating to varsity status in 2007. He encourages his student-athletes to be academically sound, mentally and physically strong, and team-oriented. Coaching allows him to give back to the sport that has played such an integral part in his life.

Widely known for his humanitarian efforts, Cleophat is CEO, president, and founder of “The Ernst Cleophat International Soccer Academy,” a nonprofit organization for underprivileged children.

Watch Ernst Cleophat's Induction Video