Coaching Staff

Tom Minnick

Football - Head Coach

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Ever since he first stepped foot onto the AWC campus back in the summer of 2008, Tom Minnick has fully embraced the storied lore of Matador Football’s great seasons of the 1960’s & 1970’s-including striking up a friendship with the head coach of those great teams, Ray Butcher. As he enters his 5th season at the helm of the program, Minnick has the current Matador Football program on par-and in some ways, ahead-of what those great teams of the past have accomplished. Minnick led his 2008 Matador team to a 5-5 record, and while he was disappointed about the record (even though it was a three-win upgrade from the year before), everyone else saw the incredible difference he and his coaches had made on the program. Since then, Minnick has brought the Matadors to the conversation about national championship contenders every year. They’ve won the WSFL title every year since (the first time ever that the Matador Football team has ever won 3 straight conference titles); been to postseason bowl games each year since (2009 Mississippi Bowl, 2010 C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, 2011 El Toro Bowl); earned the #1 national ranking at different times during each of the last two seasons (first time since 1972); win 30 games in the last three seasons combined (most for any three-year span in the program’s history); bring the NJCAA’s Offensive Player of the Year Award to the program for the first time ever (Reggie Bullock won the award in 2010); and feature the WSFL’s Player of the Year three times in the last two years (Bullock (2010) & Damien Williams (2011) won the Offensive POY; Chris Young won the Defensive POY in 2011). Last December, Minnick’s team came within an eyelash of also bringing the program its first national championship since 1972, which he will try to make happen this December. The turnaround the program has made under Minnick wasn’t a surprise, since he came to Yuma after doing the same thing for Illinois’s Joliet Junior College. Minnick took a middling program and led it back to national prominence, leading the ‘06 Wolves to a 7-4 record, a Midwest Football Conference East Division title & a trip to the Graphic Edge Printing Bowl; then leading the ’07 team to 9 straight wins to finish out the season-including a win in the Graphic Edge Printing Bowl-to finish with a 10-2 record, a 2nd straight MFC East Division crown, and a #10 ranking in the final NJCAA Football Poll-their highest national ranking in 5 years. Minnick’s learning curve began as a starting quarterback at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1986 under the man who would become his mentor, NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Bob MacDougall. Minnick became MacDougall’s assistant at DuPage from 1990 until 1996 (helping lead them to bowl appearances all seven years and four bowl wins), then reunited with him in the same capacities at Joliet from 2000 until MacDougall’s retirement in ’06, where they won 2 national championships (’01 (as NJCAA Non-Scholarship Champs) & ’02 (overall champs), put together a 21-game winning streak over 2 years, and won two bowl games. Minnick has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Tom and his wife, AWC Spirit Team Coach Tiffany Minnick, will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this September, and have two daughters, 14-year-old Payton and 9-year-old Morgan.

Football - Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach

Email: Jerry Dominguez

As Jerry Dominguez heads into his eighth year with the Matador Football program-the longest tenure of any football coach at the school-one thing remains constant: his defenses continue to keep the Matadors in the national spotlight. Dominguez has been the team’s defensive coordinator in seven of those eight years, and the benchmarks of his defensive teachings-quickness and tenacity-have caused the Matadors to lead the WSFL in sacks five times and held ten opponents scoreless during that time. Nearly 40 of Dominguez’s Matador defensive stars went on to play at NCAA Division I schools over that span, including two current four-year university stars: Jesse Williams, who was a starting defensive lineman this past year for NCAA National Champion Alabama; and Isiah Wiley, who’s expected to be a main cog in the USC Trojans’ defense this season. That list also includes three former pro signees: NJCAA All-American (and AWC’s all-time sack leader) Luis Vasquez (Ravens), who became an All-Pac 10 defensive lineman at Arizona State; Jeromy Jones (Rams), a two-year starter at the University of Idaho; and Terrance Lee (Hamilton (CFL)), who started for UNLV. This past April, Dominguez’s pride grew as for the first time, he saw one of his alums, Korey Toomer, get his name called during the 5th round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks; then saw two other former Matadors, defensive ends Myles Wade (Buccaneers) and Zach Masch (Seahawks), get signed as free agents. Over the last three years, Dominguez has been responsible for the Matadors owning the WSFL’s top-ranked defense (and 4th-best in the nation) each of the last three years, allowing just under 200 yards per game in each of those seasons. This past year, his entire starting linebacker corps all went to top NCAA Division I schools (Arizona State and Louisiana-Lafayette) two defensive lineman followed suit (Portland State & Colorado State) as did his starting cornerbacks (South Florida & Hawaii). Those kinds of placements are what continue to drive Dominguez in his 16th year of coaching. Before AWC, the native of Watsonville, California, was a six-year assistant (five as defensive coordinator) at NCAA Division II Northern State University, leading their defense to school single-game records for fewest rushing yards allowed (-29) and fewest total yards allowed (52) while helping take them to a conference title and the program’s first-ever bowl appearance. Dominguez began his coaching career as Secondary Coach & Special Teams Coordinator for two years at NAIA power Bethany College in Kansas. This was after leading Bethany to two regular undefeated seasons, two conference titles, and two playoff appearances as an All-Conference linebacker and Team MVP. Dominguez has his Master’s degree in Science in Education, and is an integral part of the academic success of AWC’s student-athletes as the Athletic Academic Service Coordinator for the Matador Athletic Department. Jerry and Merissa have three children: two daughters, 14-year-old Maisey Joi & 8-year-old Melaya Evelia, and one son, 11-year-old Jazz Antonio.

Tony Mitchell, Jr.

Football - Offensive Line Coach

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If there is a star lineman moving from AWC to a top four-year school over the last four years, chances are his success has been guided by Tony Mitchell. Mitchell’s ability to gain the respect of his charges has been readily evident by the maturation that his pupils show throughout the season… and beyond. Mitchell heads into his 5th year on the Matador Football coaching staff having split his first four years coaching each side of the line. In 2008 & 2009, he coached the defensive line, getting the best out of guys like NJCAA All-Americans Joel Walton and Ben Swarts, and putting the building blocks in place for Jesse Williams to be recruited by Alabama and start for their national championship team last year. In 2010, Mitchell shifted to the offensive side of the ball, and since then, his blockers have opened gaps to allow Matador rushers Reggie Bullock & Damien Williams to each win WSFL rushing titles and WSFL Offensive Player of the Year awards. He’s groomed 2 NJCAA All-American linemen in the last two years (David Ke’kuewa & Aaron Douglas) as well as four linemen (and a tight end) to All-Region I & All-WSFL honors. The partnership between Mitchell and AWC Head Football Coach Tom Minnick has been a long and prosperous one-one that began in Mitchell’s native state of Illinois when they were coaching mates at Joliet Junior College. Mitchell helped lead the Wolves to a pair of bowl appearances in four years of coaching both linebackers and defensive linemen. Mitchell also spent his time in between his final season with JJC and his first season at AWC in Hamburg, Germany, coaching for the Blue Devils German Football League. Like Minnick, Mitchell learned from NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Bob MacDougall as both a star player and an up-and-coming assistant. Mitchell was a star linebacker for two of MacDougall’s bowl-bound teams at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and then started for two more years in the Kentucky State University linebacking corps in 1993 and 1994. Ten years later, Mitchell adjusted to being a coach, reuniting with MacDougall and Minnick on Joliet’s coaching staff. Mitchell earned his Bachelor’s degree from Governor’s State University in Illinois after earning his Associate’s degree while at the College of DuPage. In addition to his coaching duties on the field, Tony is also a coach and mentor to the students who live on the AWC campus as the hall director at Kino Hall.

James Magee

Football - Tight Ends Coach

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One of the marks of success for any two-year coach is to have your charges be good enough to get noticed and recruited by top four-year universities. For James Magee, so far, so good, since in his first year as the Matadors’ Tight Ends Coach in 2011, his top pupil, Darwin Rogers, wound up at Arizona State this fall. Not bad for a guy who had to hit the ground running to learn the nuance of Tom Minnick’s offense in his first year as a college coach. Magee came to AWC after spending the first two years of his coaching career at the high school level, coaching the offensive line at Ballard High School. Magee went back home to coach the Beavers’ O-line, since he was a star offensive tackle himself (and played every position on the offensive and defensive lines at one time or another) during his playing days at one of the top 4A football programs in the state of Washington. He didn’t have to look far for a college home after his high school days, since Washington State University was Magee’s next stop. Magee continued to show his versatility for the Cougars, playing center, guard and tackles for four years at WSU. Magee showed the same dedication off the field, earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Studies at Washington State.

Vernon Smith

Football - Defensive Backs Coach

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Vernon Smith will be one of three football coaches making their Matador coaching debuts this fall. However, Smith is no stranger to college coaching, and he’s done it on three different levels. 2012 will be Smith’s third straight year coaching defensive backs at the two-year college level, since he comes to AWC after spending the last two seasons coaching cornerbacks for the Comets of Palomar College in California, helping to lead the Comets to a seven-win season last year and a #22 national ranking in JCGridiron.com’s final ‘Dirty 30’ Poll. Before that, Smith coached at the NCAA Division II level as a graduate assistant at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. Smith got a chance to show his coaching versatility as he coached the defensive backs in his first year before moving to the offensive side of the ball to coach running backs in 2009, and Smith helped the Wildcats win 22 games combined in his two years there. Smith began his coaching career as a cornerback coach at NAIA school Southern Oregon University, and helped them to their first winning season in five years during his lone season on the staff in 2007. The Matadors’ defensive backs would be wise to listen to Smith about how to succeed on the playing field, since during his playing days, Vernon was an NCAA All-American & two-time 1st Team All-Big Sky cornerback in leading the University of Montana Grizzlies to the 2011 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship before finishing his college career with a 6-interception season as a senior at Eastern Oregon University. Smith was also a standout performer at Mission Bay High School in his native San Diego.  Smith also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Montana, and then earned his Master’s degree in HPE Athletic Administration from Central Washington University.

Ritchie Martin

Football - Wide Receivers Coach

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‘Make the most of every opportunity you’re given.’ The newest member of the Matador Football coaching fraternity, Ritchie Martin, has exemplified that statement at every stop of his journey, and he hopes to bring that kind of inspiration to his charges this season. 2012 is Martin’s first opportunity to coach college football, but he’s prepared for this chance with learning some bit of coaching knowledge at every rung of his playing career. Martin was a two-sport star at Franklin High School in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, and was an All-State performer at both wide receiver and defensive back. On the college level, he focused on just the offensive side of the ball, and earned All-American honors at Santa Rosa Junior College. He finished his college playing career with two star-studded seasons (including winning the team’s Rookie of the Year Award) with the nationally ranked Wildcats of Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. Martin was then able to realize the dream of playing a long, professional career by moving north of the border to spend seven seasons playing for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League, and then returning back to the States in the off-seasons to play the Everett Hawks in the Arena Football League. While he was playing pro, he was laying the foundation for his coaching career, spending time at Linfield as a graduate assistant, and spending two off-seasons as an assistant coach for a semi-pro team in Oregon. After retiring as a player, Martin spent several years working in the private sector before the football bug hit him again, and he went back to his roots, becoming the wide receiver and defensive backs coach at Franklin High School in 2009. Martin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology & Counseling at Linfield College, and has also earned his Master Certification in Speed Agility and Quickness as an NASM Certified personal trainer. Martin and his wife, River Taylor Martin, dote on their three children: 15-year-old Kyler, 9-year-old Trey and 6-year-old Tiara.

Will Carr

Football - Defensive Line Coach

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While 2012 may be the inaugural year of Will Carr’s coaching career, he feels more than ready for the task-considering the knowledge and expertise that he’s been able to take from working under some of the top coaches in the nation during his football playing career. Like many who are born and raised in football-crazy Dallas, Texas, football has been a part of Carr’s entire life, and the roots for greatness were planted in Carr by legendary Texas high school football coach Freddie James, who molded Carr into All-State Player of the Year at nationally known Carter High School in Dallas. Carr was one of the top recruits coming out of high school, and received a full scholarship to the University of Michigan. Carr flourished on the Wolverines’ defensive line under head coach Lloyd Carr, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and then-defensive line coach Brady Hoke (now Michigan Head coach). Carr became a two-time All-Big 10 selection and an NCAA 1st Team All-American, and is considered one of the top 15 defensive linemen in Michigan history. Carr was then drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1997 NFL Draft, and spent the next few years as part of the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons’ practice squads. He also spent a season overseas playing for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe. Carr returned from overseas to become a star defensive lineman for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, where he would be mentored by now-Cincinnati Bengals’ Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden. Carr led the team to the AFL Championship Game by topping the squad in sacks, and was even a finalist for the AFL’s Hero Award. Since his retirement as a player, Carr has stayed active in football clubs around the Lone Star State, and owns his own apparel company. The light of Carr’s life is his six-year-old son, William Braden.