Head Coach Mark McElroy, Ed.D. Click here

Steve Crapo Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator

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.

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

Coach Crapo makes his home in Laguna Niguel with his four children, Kaylee (17), Victoria (14), Kurt (8), and Natalie (7).

Don Butcher Director of Football Operations

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.

Matt Cascardo Defensive Backs

Coach Cascardo is in his first full season as a Gaucho football coach and will work with the defensive backs. He is a product of St. Francis High School in northern California where he was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his football and baseball careers at West Valley College where he earned first-team all-conference recognition before transferring to the University of Texas to play football. He finished his undergraduate career at Cal Lutheran.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at Cal Lutheran in 1997 and his master’s degree in education administration in 1998. He recently received a second master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University.

Cascardo served as a graduate assistant at Cal Lutheran in 1997 and then as the linebacker coach for Simi Valley HS. He spent four seasons coaching linebackers at Laguna Hills High School before assuming his current duties with the Gauchos.

Coach Cascardo currently teaches at Silverado HS and makes his home in Aliso Viejo.

Kerry Crabb Quarterbacks

Coach Crabb is in his second 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.

Coach Crabb and his wife, Lisa, make their home in Huntington Beach with their children, Kaulin (16) and Kristian (8).

Mike Mayoral Linebackers

Coach Mayoral is in his second season as an assistant coach at Saddleback. He is originally a product of Montebello High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He continued to play both football and baseball in college, attending Taft College where he was a two-time all-conference selection before finishing his career at Cal Poly Pomona. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly and later earned his master’s degree from the University of LaVerne.

Mayoral started his coaching career in ’76 at San Gabriel High School. He has also had coaching assignments at Bell Gardens HS and Rio Hondo College before serving as the head coach at Schurr High School in Montebello for 11 seasons.

Mayoral and his wife, Sandy, currently make their home in San Clemente with their sons Chris, Brian, Robert, and Ryan.

Taz Murtaugh Defensive Backs

Coach Murtaugh is in his ninth 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.

Coach Murtaugh and his wife, Sherry, make their home in Laguna Niguel with their son, Brice.

Rick Ready Defensive Line

Coach Ready is a product of Roger Bacon HS in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lettered in football, wrestling, basketball, and track. He continued his football career at Muskingum College, then at Dayton, before finishing up at Miami University of Ohio on a “Cradle of Coaches” scholarship. Miami (OH) is considered the Cradle of Coaches because several prominent football coaches were either student-athletes and/or coaches at Miami before achieving greater fame at more prominent college programs or the NFL. Among these coaches were Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, and Ron Zook.

Coach Ready earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dayton in 1979 and an MBA in business management from Miami (OH) in 1984. He returned to his high school alma mater to start his coaching career and then served as a graduate assistant at Miami (OH) before serving as head coach at St. Paul HS for two seasons. After landing in California he spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Mater Dei HS, helping to guide that team to the national championship in 1996. Most recently he has been an assistant coach at Fountain Valley HS, helping guide that program to the 2004 Sunset League title.

He currently teaches science and religion classes at JSerra HS. He makes his home in San Clemente with his wife, Heather, and their children Andrew (20) and Hillary (16).

Greg Shadid Receivers/Special Teams

Coach Shadid is a three-sport letterman from Buena Park High School who played football at Cypress College before attending Western New Mexico. He earned all-conference recognition both at Cypress and at WNMU. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western New Mexico and later earned his teaching credential.

He spent six seasons as the head coach at Bolsa Grande High, leading the team to a pair of league titles and a CIF championship in 1986. He spent 11 seasons on the staff at Orange Coast College, working with wide receivers and defensive backs. He’s now in his eighth season with the Gauchos.

Coach Shadid and his wife, Christine, make their home in Rancho Santa Margarita with their son, Bryan (14), and daughter, Haley (10).

Lito Soifua Running Backs/Strenght Coach

Coach Soifua is in his third 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.

A certified personal trainer, Soifua makes his home in Santa Ana with this wife, Leilani, and their four daughters, LaRee (9), Larissa (7), Lianna (5), and Lusi (3).

Scott Wilford Offensive Linemen

Scott Wilford is in his third 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.

Coach Wilford currently teaches math at Laguna Hills High School. He makes his home in Mission Viejo with his wife, Emily and daughter, Madison (1½).

Troy Yamaguchi /Tight Ends/Offensive Line

Coach Yamaguchi is in his first 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.

He currently makes his home in Aliso Viejo with his wife, Lisa Ann, and their sons Trevor (2) and Tyler (1).