|
 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 74-36, advancing to bowl games for eight straight seasons (2001-08). He was named the Region IV coach-of-the-year in 2004 and 2006, and has had eight former players advance to the NFL. A total of 81 players have transferred to DI or DIAA (sub-division) programs during his tenure and 180 players have transferred to 4-year institutions in 10 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 tenth 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 350 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.
 Quarterbacks KERRY CRABB
Coach Crabb is in his fourth 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. He continues to work at Cypress HS and also serves as that school’s athletic director.
 Defensive Backs TAZ MURTAUGH
 Coach Murtaugh is in his 11th season of coaching with the Gauchos. He has 19 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 26th 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.
 Running Backs/Strength Coach LITO SOIFUA
 Coach Soifua is in his fifth season with the Gaucho football program and showcases a vast array of playing and coaching experience. Soifua was a three sport letterman at Los Amigos HS before continuing his football career at Rancho Santiago (aka: Santa Ana) College and then BYU-Hawaii where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science.
He started his coaching career in 1991 at Los Amigos HS, mentoring the running backs. He then spent six years at Waiakea HS in Hilo, Hawaii, working with the running backs and defensive backs. He was the head coach at that school in 1997 and ’98, guiding the team to an undefeated season and the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) championship. He served as the quarterback coach at Georgia State in 2002 and as the offensive line coach at Fountain Valley HS in 2003.
 Offensive Line SCOTT WILFORD
Scott Wilford is in his fifth season working with the offensive linemen. A product of Los Alamitos High School where he played football, wrestled, and threw the shot and discus, Wilford continued his football career at Fullerton College and then Chico State. He helped the Hornets capture the Mission Conference title in 1988 with a 10-0 record.
Wilford earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Chico State in 1993 and later added master’s degrees from Azusa Pacific (physical education) and Cal State San Bernardino (education). He returned to his alma mater (Los Alamitos HS) to start his coaching career in 1993. He moved over to Fountain Valley HS for three seasons (1996-’98), then to Laguna Hills HS for three more (1999-’01), before returning to Fountain Valley for the 2003 season.
 Tight Ends/Offensive Line TROY YAMAGUCHI
 Coach Yamaguchi is in his third 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.
Offensive Line JACKIE SLATER
 NFL Hall of Fame lineman Jackie Slater joins the Saddleback coaching staff this year and will assist with coaching the offensive linemen on the field. But much more is to be gained by the coaching staff and other players who pay attention to his insight into football and the importance that education plays in a young player’s life.
Slater was an outstanding three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track) at Wingfield HS in Jackson, Mississippi, who was offered football scholarships by Texas Southern and Jackson State. He opted to attended Jackson State for its proximity near his home, and also to block for a running back named Walter Payton.
Slater was named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference All-Star Team for three years and, following his senior season, was named first-team All-America, first-team All Black America, and played in the College All-Star game against the NFL champion Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1976 draft.
His 20 years with one team - the Rams – set an NFL record and his 259 regular-season games was the most games played by an offensive lineman at the time of his retirement. He played professional football until the age of 41, playing in seven pro bowls, earning All-NFC honors seven times, and earning All-Pro honors five times. He participated in 18 playoff games, including five NFC championship games and Super Bowl XIV. Three times USA Today named him Lineman of the Year.
Slater blocked for 24 different quarterbacks and 37 different running backs, helping Eric Dickerson set the rookie rushing record (1,808 yards) and allowing seven different running backs reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone. He was selected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001, the first year he was eligible for the honor.
Kickers DANA ROACH
Coach Roach is in his fifth sdason 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) and Derek Martinez (Tabor College).
Wide Receivers RYAN RICHARDS
Coach Richards is in his second 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.
Defensive Line MIKE HARP
Coach Harp is in his first season with the Gauchos and will coach the defensive linemen. He comes to Saddleback after spending 14 years as a coach at Mater Dei High School where he was the defensive line coach for 10 seasons. He also served as the head coach of the junior varsity and freshmen squads for two years apiece.
He was a three sport letterman (football, basketball, track) at Moeller Catholic HS in Cincinnati, Ohio, before continuing his football career at the University of Cincinnati where he earned special teams player of the year honors. He was picked up as a free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals after graduating with a degree in Business Management.
Special Assistant ALEX MOOTE
Coach Moote is a special assistant to Coach McElroy this season with no specific responsibilities designated. He attended Saddleback, Long Beach City, Coastal Carolina, and then Chapman University where he is currently working on a degree in Sport Psychology and Coaching as well as a degree in math.
A former U.S. Marine, Moote previously coached at Huntington Beach HS working with the wide receivers and defensive backs on the freshmen team.
|
Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges, of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
