Mission statement

Bryce Alderton

Mike Taylor, entering his fifth season as Orange Coast College

football coach, likens playing each week in the Mission Conference to

a dogfight.

“The Mission Conference is the best conference in the country,”

said Taylor, who is 17-24 in his first four seasons after a 4-6 mark

last season. “Palomar just reloads, Cerritos or Pasadena ... pick

your poison and Long Beach and El Camino are always tough. We beat El

Camino the last two years, but there is not a weak sister in the

group.”

Of the 30 two-year schools ranked nationally by J.C. Grid-Wire at

the end of last season, five came from the reconfigured Mission

Conference. Palomar, 10-1 a year ago, held the highest ranking at No.

4, followed by Saddleback (9-2) at No. 15. Both schools are on OCC’s

schedule this season.

The conference split into two divisions -- American and National

-- in the offseason to maintain a sense of balance among its members.

Three weeks ago, 11 of the conference’s 12 athletic directors voted

to financially back the winners of both the American and National

divisions into separate bowl games.

That incentive, along with a staunch returning defense, gives

Taylor optimism OCC can recapture the glory of 2000, when Coast lost

its first three games before winning six of its final eight to claim

the conference crown and a berth in the Strawberry Bowl.

“All kids love to be in a bowl game,” Taylor said as he sat in his

office three weeks ago kneading through hordes of paperwork.

“Defensively, we are as good as the 2000 team. Offensively, the

running backs are better. The 2000 team was an overachieving team and

this team can achieve similar success. The only difference is, you’ve

got the bowl game scenarios. You have to learn by mistakes, do what

is right and have some luck.”

Coast ranked fifth among 12 teams in total defense a year ago,

allowing just more than 319 yards per game.

The defense returns six starters, including Jesse Mahelona, a

6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive tackle who earned first-team all-state

recognition a year ago. Mahelona, who has received scholarship offers

from Arizona State, Oregon, UCLA, Washington and Oklahoma, finished

fifth on the team in tackles with 62, but led OCC with nine tackles

for a loss, and six sacks. A native of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii,

Mahelona, who has dropped nearly 20 pounds from his playing weight a

year ago, was named the Pirates’ Most Valuable Player in 2002.

“To be getting offers this early is pretty amazing,” Taylor said

of Mahelona. “I’ve been [at Coast] since 1986 and I haven’t seen

anyone better than him at this point, at least on paper. He is an

athlete who loves the weight room.”

Sophomore defensive end Ryan Miller returns after gaining

second-team all-conference honors a year ago. Miller recorded 79

tackles -- seven for a loss -- and six sacks.

Nick Dominelli, a sophomore safety, led the team with four

interceptions and 94 tackles a year ago en route to first-team

all-conference honors. He anchors a secondary that also includes

returners Kelvin Beatty, a cornerback, and safety Una Latu.

Taylor will work with the linebackers, taking over for Mike Mayne,

who will guide the men’s tennis team this spring. Mayne spent 11

seasons as an assistant after leading the Bucs’ baseball team for 15

years.

The wealth of experience on the defensive side pales in comparison

to the offense, which returns just three starters.

The offense will be guided by first-year coaches at quarterback,

receiver and running back.

Dave Gleason played at OCC and coached with former Pirates head

man Bill Workman. Gleason teaches physical education at the school

and will work with the special teams units this year. Matt Mitchell

was an offensive coach at El Modena High last season and will guide

the Coast quarterbacks this fall. He played quarterback at Santa Ana

College. Gary Stephens spent the last five seasons at El Camino

College guiding the running backs and defensive lineman, but will

tutor the receivers for OCC.

“At this level, it’s not like when Dick Tucker was here when you

had five coaches on staff. I have two [Doug Smith and Gleason],”

Taylor said. Smith is the team’s offensive coordinator and was a

former All-Pro center with the Los Angeles Rams.

Steve Fullmer, a retired Huntington Beach police officer and

chiropractor, taught the offensive line at Golden West -- where he

also played on the offensive line -- will instruct Coast’s running

backs this fall.

“He will teach the fundamentals,” Taylor said of Fullmer. “He will

make [the backs] improved blockers.”

Freshman Beau Budde, a quarterback from San Clemente High whose

father, Brad, played in the NFL, got the starting nod the first week

against Glendale while sophomore Kelika Higa, a transfer from Chapman

University, should provide ample backup.

Derek Aspinwall, who took over as Coast’s starter two games into

last season, decided to redshirt this fall to gain a year of

eligibility when he transfers next year.

Gone from last year’s backfield are first-team all-state tailback

Niles Mittasch and Steven Mahelona. Mittasch led Coast with 92.9

rushing yards per game and 1,133 all-purpose yards. He is redshirting

for the University of Oregon this year and is wrapping up his class

load at a community college in Eugene, his hometown. Mahelona was

second on the team with a 55.8 rushing average and earned a

scholarship to play at Division II-Tusculum in Greeneville, Tenn. A

handful of players figure to vie for the starting spots in the

backfield.

Adrian Mejia and Emil West are the only returners on a youthful

offensive line that will attempt to fill the voids left by Keola Loo,

Ed Fane, Patrick Afif and Stephen Herring, who all will be playing at

four-year schools this fall.

“We need to grow up fast up front,” Taylor said of the offensive

line. “Smith (offensive coordinator) said he’s pleased with their

progress. They need a few games to get bloodied and step up.”

With a new playoff system in place, Coast’s first two games -- at

Glendale and Los Angeles Southwest -- carry more meaning than in

prior years. A conference’s record in the first two nonconference, or

“crossover” games, will be used to seed teams for postseason play.

To even entertain postseason hopes, the Pirates will have to

muster more than the 21 touchdowns they did a year ago. Palomar,

which won the division, reached the end zone 50 times.

Coleman Menke returns as the team’s primary receiver, but Taylor

said they are faster in this area than a year ago.

Despite the uncertainties the preseason brings, Taylor believes

Coast is stronger in the backfield, at tight end and at receiver.

“It all comes down to executing,” he said. “We have a great

defense, but we have to get better on offense. The freshmen will have

to turn some heads.

“Defense and special teams will dictate the level of success the

first two weeks.”