INVERNESS, FL : A longtime Citrus County soccer coach was killed on May, Thursday, 18th 2017

A longtime Citrus County soccer coach was killed Thursday in an early morning, two-car crash. Steve Ekeli, the athletics complex manager at Seven Rivers Christian School, was en route to work when the crash occurred, according to school Headmaster Dana James.

“Steve has been a coach in this county for more than 20 years and loved working with children,” James said. “He was a humble man and one of the great servants,” James added.

He said Seven Rivers Christian School brought him back to manage the new Warrior Park Sports Complex about two years ago, with confidence that he would do an outstanding job, which he did. Ekeli also was the head boys soccer coach and was part of the school’s football coaching staff.

“I don’t know if we are going to be able to replace him. So, we are greatly saddened by what happened,” James said.

According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, two vehicles collided at the intersection of State Road 44 (West Main Street) and Seminole Avenue.

At least one person was trapped inside their vehicle and at least one person died, according to the sheriff’s office.

Police shut down eastbound and westbound lanes of S.R. 44, forcing traffic to be rerouted down side streets for several hours until lanes opened up around 10 a.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the fatal crash and will release additional details later.

The Rev. Ray Cortese of Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church, where the Ekeli family are members, opened the doors of the church to shocked, grieving friends and family from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to commune and pray.

In an email to his congregation, Cortese confirmed the death of Ekeli.

“Steve leaves a wife, Julie, and a daughter, Victoria. Church and school staff are ministering to them now. Our school leadership team is doing a great job leading the athletes Steve coached and our middle and high school students through this tragedy,” the pastor wrote.

“Steve was a joy and delight to know. He loved working at and for Seven Rivers Christian School. It’s too soon to have made any funeral arrangements, but when they’re made, we’ll let you know.”

Gary Dreyer, athletic director at Seven Rivers, said he has known Ekeli for about 20 years and that the pair would swap stories about their hometown on Long Island. Dreyer said Ekeli was popular with the students he coached because of his sense of humor, which was tailor-made for teenagers.

“This is a great loss and our concern and prayers right now are for his family — his wife Julie and daughter Victoria and also his parents,” Dreyer said.

“At Seven Rivers we are a family, and right now, we feel a great sense of loss, but we all have the good memories. He will never be forgotten,” Dreyer added.

Source :
Popular coach killed in wreck