2021 Coaching Staff

Coach Arana’s role is to oversee all aspects of the athletic performance enhancement for the Saugus High school football team. His primary responsibilities include developing, implementing, and oversight the sports performance program for the football team. Coach Arana comes to Saugus high school after finishing a two-year learning experience with the UCLA Football Performance staff under coach Frank Wintrich. Coach Arana’s responsibilities at UCLA were the supervision, maintenance, and oversight of the weight room, assisting with the design, implementation, and management of strength training and conditioning programs for the football team, specializing in working with the OL/DL. Previously, Coach Arana worked at nearby Bishop Alemany high school boy’s and girl’s soccer teams (2018 -2021), California State University-Los Angeles, assisting the staff that service 13 NCAA Division II teams. College of the Canyons (women’s soccer), and California State University-Northridge (student/assistant) helping to oversee and maintenance of the weight room that service 19 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams. Coach Arana is a COC alumnus and transfers to CSUN to finish his education in Kinesiology-Sport Studies.

Rocco Cordola enters his 28th year of defensive line instruction in his coaching career. This will be his 4th year at Saugus and 2nd on the varsity level with coach Bornn. His football coaching career started at Bishop Alemany high school in 1993 for 8 years where he began to learn the “tools of the trade” as a d-line coach, often visiting other high school and college coaches for instruction and tutelage, trying to grow his knowledge of the game he loves.

From there, “Coach Roc” interviewed at College of the Canyons for the defensive line coach position and was hired out of several candidates. Sending over 40 players to the division one, two and three programs; including two d-linemen to the NFL Jason-Pierre-Paul (Drafted 15th by the New York Giants and Current Super Bowl Champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Domata Peko (Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos). Coach Roc still feels the best part his college coaching experience is staying in touch with his past athletes and hearing how they have become wonderful, husbands, fathers and good men in our society today. After an 8 year stretch at COC, he stepped down so he could coach his twin boys Amedeo and Joey in youth football, winning 5 championships at the youth level before following them to Saugus High School. Currently, Amedeo is a senior on the football team and Joey is playing baseball for Saugus as well. His daughter Sierra enters her freshman year at Saugus and is due to graduate in 2025. Through it all, none of this could be possible without the support of his loving wife Lori who decided to take this journey with him 21 years ago this October.

Coach Cuadros graduated in 1997 from Palmdale High School. He played safety during his tenure at Palmdale High. Coach Cuadros currently has a child playing safety for Saugus Varsity that will graduate in 2022. Coach Cuadros also currently works for NCSA, helping student athletes with the college recruiting process.

Coach Henderson is entering his second season with the varsity staff serving as the tight ends coach.  He has previous stops at Canyon High School and College of the Canyons. While at COC he served on an offensive staff that set numerous school records including most points scored in a season (2008) and leading the nation in scoring offense (2007).  During his tenure as wide receiver and tight end coach, he mentored five all-conference selections and one junior college all-American.  He currently serves as a counselor at Sierra Vista Junior High School after spending the previous 19 years at Saugus working in the Social Studies and English Departments.

Coach Irace has been coaching since 1969 and been involved in two undefeated football CIF championships and coached at both the high school and college levels, coaching multiple positions. He is very grateful to Jason for giving him the opportunity to coach on a limited basis at a great High School, Saugus High and being involved in the Saugus High football program. He played football in high school, junior college and college levels. He graduated from California State University Northridge and Azusa Pacific with a master’s degree in education.  He also taught in the Glendale Unified School district for 36 years. Coach Irace’s family includes his beautiful wife Diane, daughter Joy, son John (former 1st team All-League Saugus football player), daughter-in-law Kelly and six grandkids: Hayden, Maysen, Londyn, Zach, Zoey, Zaley.  As parents you should be very proud of your sons. Go centurions!

Coach Ivie is entering his second season with Saugus Football serving as the Varsity QB Coach. Prior to Saugus, Coach Ivie served as the Offensive Coordinator for Oak Hills High School (2016-2019), helping the Bulldogs secure the Mojave River League title outright and a playoff berth. Past coaching experience includes Inside Receiver Coach at College of the Canyons (2010-2011), Varsity OL Coach & JV Head Coach at Golden Valley High School (2007-2009).

Coach Macedo is a graduate of Saugus High School (Class of 2021). He will be Coaching his first year here at Saugus as the Freshman Offensive line Coach. He was a part of the team that won the Foothill League Title after going without one for 12 years straight. Outside of Football he loves working out and spending time with his loved ones.

Coach Maxwell, a graduate of Village Christian (Class of ‘12) where he lettered in three sports and was a Team Captain for the Football program. Coach Maxwell completed his Accounting Degree at California State, Northridge while coaching for 5 years at Heritage Christian as the Offensive Coordinator. He transitioned to Saugus during the Summer of 2019 as he was completing his Teaching Credential and is now a teacher on campus. In 2020 he took over coaching the Corners and now for 2021 the Safeties as well. He prides himself on getting the most out of his players and teaching them the nuances of the position. He thanks his beautiful fiancé for letting him devote so much time and energy to the young men and this program.

This is Coach Mears’ seventh year coaching football at Saugus High School after previous stints at L.A. Baptist, Granada Hills, Alemany, Paraclete, and Lancaster high schools.    

Coach Mears has lived in Valencia for fourteen years with his wife Janel, who is a kindergarten teacher.  Coach Mears’ son Kyle graduated from Saugus as a multi-sport athlete in 2012.  His daughter, Jenna, was the placekicker for the Varsity football team in 2013, the same season she was named Homecoming Queen.  Coach Mears also has two stepdaughters – Hannah, who attends Moorpark’s Exotic Animal Training Program, and Chloe, who attends Chapman University.

Coach Mears graduated from CSU Northridge with a degree in Economics.  In his life away from football, Coach Mears is a Registered Investment Advisor.  His father, who played football at UCLA, raised him to root for the Bruins in both football and basketball.  He has also been a dedicated Angels baseball fan since 1972.

Coach Russell, a graduate of Saugus High School (Class of ‘89), returns for his 25th season with the Centurions and 14th as the offensive coordinator. Coach Russell is currently an economics/ government teacher at Saugus High. When he is not coaching football he enjoys spending time with his beautiful family, Momoko, Ken and Emi.

This will be Coach Stiman’s 4th year coaching at Saugus High School and 8th year coaching overall.  His coaching career started in Santa Maria until he moved back to Santa Clarita to come to Saugus.  Currently, he is teaching basic Algebra and Biology.  On the field, he is the JV head coach, JV Offensive Line Coach and Varsity Offensive Line Coach.  In the past he has coached wide receivers, defensive backs, special teams and now the offensive line.  There is no other school he would rather be at and he can’t wait for this season to kick off!

James Stirwalt was a Saugus student-athlete graduating with honors and receiving All CIF Southern Section Defense and First Team Defense recognition as a linebacker for the Centurions in 2018.  His passion for football drove him to assist in coaching a SCV Senior Warrior team followed by SCV Chrome.  This would progress to becoming an assistant coach for the Saugus freshman level for the next two years.  This year, James is the defensive coordinator for the Saugus freshman level.  James will be entering his senior year at the University of California, Irvine as a Biological Sciences major, aspiring to become a medical physician.  When not studying or coaching, James enjoys surfing, fishing, camping and the outdoors with friends and family.

Coach Michael Torres is a 2007 Saugus High School and football alumni. He is back for his 3rd year of coaching the outside linebacker position. Over a lifetime of playing this sport, football has taught him so many positive attributes that he has been able to apply to life outside of football. His goal is to give back to his football family while teaching these boys the fundamentals of life & football! 

 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” – HEBREWS 12:11-13

Coach Zapata is in his 1st year as Inside Linebackers coach at Saugus HS. Originally from south Orange County, Coach Zapata graduated from El Toro High School (Class of 2000) where he competed in football, baseball and wrestling and went on to attend college at Chico State University. Coach Zapata moved from Huntington Beach to Santa Clarita Valley in 2017 with his wife Jenna, who is a teacher at Mountainview Elementary. They have a 2yr old son, Christopher Jr., and are expecting their daughter in September 2021. Coach Zapata has a close relationship with his Mom and Dad, as well as siblings Mike, Ruby and Christine. When not coaching, life for the Zapata family revolves around family, dogs and friends. Coach Zapata is a part owner of The Artemis Company, which is a staffing and executive recruitment firm. Coach Zapata looks forward to giving back to the community and influencing student athletes.