After 34 years as a teacher and coach in the Capistrano Unified School District, Ken retired in June 2017. In his stellar coaching career, he has accomplished nearly 600 wins as a head coach (over 500 wins and still counting in volleyball, and 66 basketball wins as a head coach…and this doesn’t even include all the victories on the football field for the 30 plus years as Varsity Assistant Football Coach). These fantastic accomplishments show his unique and versatile abilities in three different sports. His track record shows that he wasn’t just involved with the teams…but that they were exceptional under his direction!
After being a three-sport student-athlete at Tustin High School, Ken went on to Saddleback College where he focused his attention on football, and became the starting free safety for his two seasons, and was an integral part of the 1973 Championship Team. He then attended Chico State University where he was recruited to play football but instead, made the basketball team and once the volleyball coach saw his athletic abilities, he was recruited for the volleyball program. He immediately became the starting outside hitter for the volleyball team, culminating in a Northern California Championship over Stanford and Berkeley. He also became a AAA Beach Volleyball Player, where his 40” plus vertical jump helped make him a standout player.
After college, Ken completed his student teaching in Dublin, Ireland. He then spent a year in Idaho Falls, and three years at Tustin High School substitute teaching and coaching varsity football and basketball before getting hired in the Capistrano Unified School District in 1983. He also earned his Masters Degree at Azusa Pacific College in 1987, in the same class as Mark McElroy and CIF Commissioner Rob Wigod.
He spent three years teaching English and PE at San Clemente High School, where he coached Varsity Football under Allie Schaff, and was involved in both the boys and girls’ volleyball programs with Jack Iverson. He was soon hired away from San Clemente by Capistrano Valley High School as the Head Varsity Volleyball coach in 1987. In 6 years under his leadership, he took a team that had never won a league championship and built a powerhouse culminating in 4 straight league championships and trips to the CIF quarter finals, semi finals and finals.
In 1993 he was recruited to Aliso Niguel High School and became head coach of the boys first basketball program, making the CIF playoffs in his final three seasons, and recording a respectable 66-65 Varsity record. As a resident of San Clemente, in 1999 he had the opportunity to return to his community to teach and coach at San Clemente High School. He was hired as the Varsity Boys Volleyball Coach, and coached the defensive backs in football under his friend and colleague, Eric Patton, who he also worked with at Capistrano Valley High School. During his 17 years, and entering his 18th season at San Clemente High School, Ken accumulated 407 more victories (to date), including 10 South Coast League Championships, and has NEVER finished below second place in the Division 1, South Coast League. He also has coached Varsity Football at SCHS for 14 years, from 1999-2013, beginning with a South Coast League Championship in 1999. His SCHS Triton Football Teams made it to CIF Playoffs every year…culminating in a trip to the CIF Division 1 finals in 2012!
As an English teacher, Ken has enjoyed interacting and getting his freshman students acclimated to the High School environment and helping prepare them for the next three years. He also had the opportunity to coach both of his sons in the Boys Volleyball program, and Nick in the football program…while Adam spent his time off the volleyball court on the SCHS Surf Team. Ken’s wife, Sandra, was also involved as a photographer for his teams, and she was also a co-team Mom for the San Clemente High School Surf Team. Sandra was also a member of the San Clemente Educational Foundation from 2005 – 2010. This family truly believes in giving back to the San Clemente community!
When asked, Ken said: “It’s been a very rewarding career teaching and coaching in the community, I wouldn’t change a thing!”
