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2010 (Season) Commits

Erik Akre, LB
Miami

Matt Belardes, WR
Menlo

Temeni Brewster, CB
Northwestern State

Michael Campana, RB
Humboldt State

Alex Castellanos, LB
Rhode Island

Taber Cheo, LB
Evangel

Brad Curtis, QB
SW Oklahoma State

Mike Di Domenico, OL
Tarleton State

Andrew Douglas, LB
Robert Morris

Michael Frisina, K
Boise State

Scott Graves, LB
San Diego State

Blake Harrah, DE
Oregon State

Max Little, OL
Humboldt State

Lanny Papanikolas, WR
Weber State

Chris Pierce, RB
Chowan

Chase Pinesett, LB
Jackson State

Sean Reilly, QB
UNLV

Matt Reza, DB
Cal Poly SLO

Samuel Tautolo, OC
Iowa State

Steven Watts, OL
Stony Brook

Location: PE 505 [map]
Phone: (949) 582-4639
Fax: (949) 347-9328

Mark McElroy
Head Football Coach
(949) 582-4639
mmcelroy@saddleback.edu

Steve Crapo
Asst. Football Coach
(949) 582-4506
scrapo@saddleback.edu

Kerry Crabb
Asst. Football Coach
(949) 582-4406
kcrabb@saddleback.edu

Don Butcher
Director, Football Operations
(949) 582-4643
dbutcher@saddleback.edu

Head Coach MARK McELROY

Coach McElroy has been a Gaucho since he saw his first Saddleback game in 1971 at Mission Viejo High School and witnessed Rudy Holmes return a punt for a touchdown. McElroy graduated from San Clemente High School in 1978 where he played football, wrestled and golfed. After playing football at Kansas State University for his freshman year, he found himself back at Saddleback College to play football. He started at wide receiver for the conference champs in 1979 and helped lead the Gauchos to a final national ranking of 3rd in the nation. He then transferred to California State University, Chico, where he received his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education in 1982 and finished his football career there. He completed two Masters degrees; one in Leadership and Human Behavior from USIU and one in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. He finished his educational pursuits by earning a Doctorate in Sport Leadership from Brigham Young University in 1990.

Since arriving at Saddleback, McElroy has accumulated an overall record of 99-44, advancing to bowl games for 11 straight seasons (2001-11). He was named the Region IV coach-of-the-year in 2004 and 2006, and has had 10 former players advance to the NFL. A total of 111 players have transferred to DI or DIAA (sub-division) programs during his tenure and 244 players have transferred to 4-year institutions in 13 seasons.

Coach McElroy started his coaching career as an assistant in 1983 at his alma mater, San Clemente High School. He coached there until 1987, when he accepted a prestigious coaching position from LaVell Edwards at Brigham Young University. At BYU, he served as the Head JV Coach and an offensive assistant under Norm Chow where the team went 19-7 and was WAC Champions in 1989. He then coached at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, and helped the team to their best record in over 15 years with a 6-3 record. After this brief stint up north, he coached one year at Capistrano Valley High School before landing the Head Coach position at San Clemente High School. He took over a program that had been winless in league for 6 years and turned the program into an annual playoff contender. He served as Head Coach there for seven seasons posting a 43-28-3 record and leading the Tritons to their first playoff appearance in 14 years (1993) and their first league championship in 17 years (1995).

In addition to his coaching duties, McElroy loves to teach and is very active in Physical Education. He wrote the curriculum for the surfing program at Saddleback and this extremely popular program has waiting lists each semester for the classes. He also coached the Saddleback Surf Team to the NSSA State Championships in 2002. He has also served as a professor in Physical Education at the Graduate level at Azusa Pacific University for over 12 years.

In addition to his coaching and teaching duties, he has been involved in other professional endeavors. He was Vice President for Boys and Mens Athletics for CAHPERD for 2000 & 2001. He authored a book entitled Coaching the No-Huddle Offense, produced six instructional videos for football, has presented at numerous clinics over the past 15 years and wrote the initiative to change the High School tiebreaker system in California in 1997. He believes strongly in teaching character to his athletes in helping them become not only better football players, but also better people.

Defensive Coordinator STEVE CRAPO

Now in his 14th season at Saddleback. Coach Crapo is the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Gauchos.

Coach Crapo was a three-sport letterman at Dana Hills High School before attending Saddleback where he played two years for the Gauchos (’77-’78). He earned Mission Conference Player of the Year honors in 1978 as a running back. He continued his football career as a defensive back at Missouri, earning Big Eight Honorable Mention status. He graduated with both a bachelor’s (social science) and master’s (special education) from Missouri and added a master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific.

Director of Football Operations DON BUTCHER

After coaching Gaucho linebackers for 29 years, Coach Butcher has taken his experience from the sidelines to the front office where he coordinates the daily operation of the football program.

Butcher was a highly successful linebacker coach, developing four conference Defensive Player of the Year recipients at Saddleback in Jeff Pease (’92), Scott von der Ahe (’93), Joe Cesta (’96), and Jimmy Ellingson (’03). He has coached numerous all-conference performers and 13 J.C. Grid-Wire All-Americans.

Acting as the liaison to the major college recruiters, “Butch” has been instrumental in helping over 400 Gaucho football players obtain scholarships to accredited four-year universities. Butcher played football at Los Angeles City College and was offered a free agent contract by the Baltimore Colts. He has also served as a pro personnel scout for the New England Patriots. Currently an associate faculty member teaching weight training and conditioning courses, he is a top recruiter, motivator, and teacher who remains extremely popular with his former players. In March, 2007, Butcher was inducted into the California Community College Football Association’s Hall of Fame.

Linebackers KERRY CRABB

Coach Crabb is in his eighth season as an assistant coach with the Gauchos. A product of nearby Dana Hills High School where he played football, wrestled, and ran track, Crabb went on to attend Saddleback and play for the Gauchos during the ’77 and ’78 seasons before transferring on to Chico State. He played football at Chico State and graduated from that college in ’85 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. He later earned his master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific.

He has been a high school coach for 19 years, including the head coach at West Torrance HS from ’91 to ’94 and the head coach at Cypress HS from ’97 to ’04.

Defensive Backs TAZ MURTAUGH

Coach Murtaugh is in his 15th season of coaching with the Gauchos. He has 22 years of experience coaching high school football in Orange County, including 11 seasons at Dana Hills and four more at Aliso Niguel. This is his 27th year in the teaching profession.

A product of northern San Diego county, Murtaugh prepped at Escondido HS before moving on to play at Palomar and then Redlands. His 1976 team at Redlands finished the season as national runners-up.

Murtaugh began his employment at Saddleback in 1994 and spent five years as an assistant track and field coach. In addition to his previous seasons as an assistant football coach, he has also served as the college’s head track and field coach for two seasons and the head cross country coach for one season.

Tight Ends TROY YAMAGUCHI

Coach Yamaguchi is in his seventh season with the Gauchos and will coach the tight ends this year. He is a product of St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey where he lettered in football and baseball for three years. He continued his education and athletic career at Chico State where he played football for two years.

He received his bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Chico State in 1991 and earned his teaching credential in 1998 from National University. He currently teaches Physical Education classes in the Anaheim Unified School District.

Yamaguchi started his coaching career in 1991 at West Torrance HS where he stayed for three years. He coached at Mission Viejo HS for three seasons and at Laguna Hills HS for two seasons, helping the Hawks capture a CIF title in 1997. He also coached at Cypress HS for three seasons.

Kickers DANA ROACH

Coach Roach is in his ninth season on the coaching staff working with the kickers and punters. A product of Millikan HS, Roach continued his football career at Long Beach City College. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in PE from Long Beach State and a teaching credential from the University of Phoenix. He served as the kicking coach at Long Beach State from 1980 through '83 and two seasons at the University of Cincinnati ('84-'85) before returning to Long Beach state for two more seasons ('86-'87).

During his coaching career he has had two punters finish their seasons ranked among the nation's Top 10. Recent Saddleback kickers who have been among the state community college leaders and who have gone on to four-year colleges include Andrew Larson (Cal), Tim Grasso (Hawaii), Derek Martinez (Tabor College), Michael Bowlin (Washington State) and Brendan Rowland (East Carolina).

Wide Receivers RYAN RICHARDS

Coach Richards is in his sixth season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Gauchos, helping to coach the wide receivers.

He attended nearby Capistrano Valley HS where he lettered in football and track before being recruited to come to Saddleback as a football player during head coach Mark McElroy’s first two seasons in 1999 and 2000.  Richards caught 11 passes for 349 yards and a touchdown during his Saddleback career, averaging a whopping 31.7 yards per catch.  He transferred to the University of Hawaii where he played receiver for the Warriors. He graduated from Hawaii with a degree in business marketing and started his coaching career at Woodbridge HS in Irvine for the 2004 season where he helped install the Run-and-Shoot offense while coaching the receivers.

Running Backs GREG SHADID

Coach Shadid spent nine years as an assistant coach with the Gauchos (1999-2007) before stepping aside for two seasons.  He returned in 2010 and is in his 12th season with the program.
               
He was a three-sport letterman at Buena Park HS and played football at Cypress College before attending Western New Mexico.  He earned all-conference recognition on the gridiron at both Cypress and WNMU.  Shadid earned his bachelor’s degree from Western New Mexico and later earned his teaching credential.
               
Coach Shadid spent six seasons as the head coach at Bolsa Grande HS, leading the team to a pair of league titles and a CIF championship in 1986.  He then spent 11 seasons on the staff at Orange Coast College, working with the wide receivers and defensive backs.
               
Coach Shadid and his wife, Christine, make their home in Rancho Santa Margarita with their son, Bryan, and daughter, Haley.

Defensive Line GARY STEPHENS

With a total of 32 years of coaching experience, coach Gary Stephens joined the Saddleback staff in 2011 as the defensive line coach. Stephens has spent a combination of 13 years of coaching on the 4-year level and junior college level, and was instrumental in developing eight JUCO All-Americans.  He coached four NFL players over his career, Antonio Chatman (Bengals), Ryan Riddle (Raiders), George Thomas (Falcons), and Tony Gladney (49ers).  Stephens was also an assistant offensive line coach at UNLV when RB Ickey Woods led the NCAA in rushing in 1987 and has coached over two dozen athletes who had received division 1 scholarships.

Stephens has a bachelor's of science degree from Cal State Domiquez Hills and a master's degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy. He was an all-state offensive lineman Mira Costa College (1973-74) and a starting offensive lineman College of Idaho in 1975.

In addition to his responsibilities at Saddleback, Stephens is a PE Teacher and Fitness Lab Coordinator at Santiago High School in Garden Grove.

Safeties DONOVAN TRUMBLE

Coach Trumble joins the coaching staff in 2011 as a wide receivers coach. Trumble most recently was an assistant coach at San Jaun Hills High School for two seasons after serving as an assistant coach at Canyon high School from 2000-08.

Trumble played football for two years at Temecula Valley High School before running track for Coach McElroy at San Clemente High School. Following his graduation, Trumble played for the Gauchos in 1995 before speding two seasons as an assistant coach in the San Clemente High School program. Trumble also serves as an AP Physics teacher at San Juan Hills HS. 

Offensive Line SCOTT WILFORD

Scott Wilford returns for his seventh season working with the Gaucho offensive linemen after taking the past two seasons off.  A product of Los Alamitos High School where he played football, wrestled, and threw both the shot put and discus, Wilford later continued his football career at Fullerton College and then Chico State.  He helped Fullerton win a Mission Conference title in 1988 with a perfect 10-0 record.

Wilford earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Chico State in 1993 and master’s degrees from Azusa Pacific (physical education) and Cal State San Bernardino (education).  He started his coaching career at Los Alamitos in 1993 then moved on to Fountain Valley HS for three seasons (’96-’98), Laguna Hills HS for three seasons (’99-’01), and back to Fountain Valley in 2003.  

Coach Wilford teaches math at Laguna Hills HS and makes his home in Mission Viejo with his wife, Emily, and daughter, Madison.