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Tom Minnick
Football - Head Coach
Email: Tom Minnick
‘It’s been the first time they accomplished that since…’ is a familiar and sweet phrase to the ears of Tom Minnick. He’s heard that same fragment begin a lot of sentences about the AWC Football program since he took over in 2008. In fact, it seems like a long time ago that Minnick’s first Matador team went 5-5, and while he was disappointed about the record, everyone else saw the upgrade he and his coaches had made on the program in just the span of a few months. Since then, Minnick has brought the Matadors to the conversation about national championship contenders every year. 2009 saw Minnick’s squad: 1) win their first-ever WSFL title; 2) play in the program’s first postseason appearance-the Mississippi Bowl-in eleven years; and 3) earn their first top 5 national ranking since 1972. Minnick’s 2010 team went a few steps better than that: 1) win their first back-to-back league titles of any kind, earn back-to-back bowl appearances, and win 19 games in a 2-year span all for the first time since 1980 & 1981; earn their first #1 national ranking since the Matadors’ 1972 National Championship team; and bring the NJCAA’s Offensive Player of the Year Award to the program for the first time ever when Reggie Bullock won the award last December. Now the goal for Minnick in 2011 is to bring the Matadors their first bowl win since 1972 while keeping his record nearly perfect of earning bowl bids every year he’s been a head coach. Minnick came to Yuma from Joliet Junior College in Illinois where-just like at AWC-he took a middling program and led it back to national prominence in just two years. Minnick led the ‘06 Wolves to a 7-4 record, a Midwest Football Conference East Division title, a trip to the Graphic Edge Printing Bowl, and a #19 national ranking. In 2007, he topped that performance by leading the Wolves 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. For Tom, it all meant taking what he learned from his idol and mentor, NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Bob MacDougall, and making the most of it. Minnick started learning from MacDougall as a starting quarterback at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1986, continued the learning curve as MacDougall’s assistant at DuPage from 1990 until 1996 (helping lead them to bowl appearances all seven years and four bowl wins), and culminated when the two teamed up again in the same capacities at Joliet from 2000 until MacDougall’s retirement in ’06. That last stint was highlighted by 2 national championships (’01 (as NJCAA Non-Scholarship Champs) & ’02 (overall champs), a 21-game winning streak over 2 years, and another pair of bowl wins. Minnick has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business at the University of Missouri-Rolla. Tom and his wife, Tiffany (who is AWC’s Spirit Team Coach), will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary this September, and have two daughters, 13-year-old Payton and 8-year-old Morgan.
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Jerry Dominguez
Football - Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach
Email: Jerry Dominguez
Other football coaches may have come and gone a lot during Jerry Dominguez’s seven-year tenure at AWC, but two things have consistently kept Dominguez in the forefront of the program: the ferocity of his defense, and the key to the team’s success that his defense ultimately plays. During his first three years at the school, he was the team’s defensive coordinator, teaching a quick and tenacious style that led the WSFL in sacks twice and held four opponents scoreless. 27 of Dominguez’s Matador defensive stars went on to play at NCAA Division I schools over that span, including NJCAA All-American Luis Vasquez, who became an All-Pac 10 defensive lineman at Arizona State and signed with the Baltimore Ravens; Jeromy Jones, a two-year starter at the University of Idaho who signed with the St. Louis Rams; and recent UNLV starting defensive back and alumnus Terrance Lee, who is currently playing the Canadian Football League. After spending 2008 as the team’s defensive backs coach (coaching NJCAA All-American Marcus Benjamin to a spot in the University of Arizona backfield), Dominguez moved back to defensive coordinator from ’09 to the present, where he’s been responsible for the WSFL’s top-ranked defense (and 4th-best in the nation) each of the last two years, allowing just under 200 yards per game both seasons. 3 of his starting defensive backs all went to top NCAA Division I schools this past summer (Southern Cal, Minnesota and Idaho State) and defensive lineman Jesse Williams was one of the more coveted prospects in the nation before signing with Alabama. Those kinds of placements are what continue to drive Dominguez in his 15th year of coaching. Before AWC, he 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 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-a native of Watsonville, California-and his wife Merissa have three children: two daughters, 13-year-old Maisey Joi & 7-year-old Melaya Evelia, and one son, 10-year-old son Jazz Antonio.
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Michael Orthmann
Football - Offensive Coordinator
Email: Michael Orthmann
Off the field, he doesn’t mince words, and gets right to the point. Not much different on the field for Michael Orthmann, since as the team’s offensive coordinator, he’s gotten his point across enough in his two years at AWC to help lead the team to their first back-to-back league titles in 30 years and have one of his charges earn NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year honors for the first time in AWC Football history. He had the respect of Tom Minnick from the start-as evidenced by the fact that Orthmann was the first O-Coordinator that Minnick-a longtime offensive coordinator himself-allowed to call the plays without Minnick’s final input. They’ve combined to oversee the WSFL’s top-ranked offense (and 9th & 8th in the nation, respectively), and tutor Reggie Bullock into becoming the nation’s best player. Why would Minnick offer that much respect to a man who’d never coached NJCAA Football before? Because of very impressive coaching stints with five different NCAA schools & one NAIA program since 1995. That list includes: 1) two seasons as offensive coordinator & offensive line coach at Idaho State University, where he led the Bengals to the 9th-best passing offense in the nation in 2008, and whose prize pupil, Evan Dietrich-Smith, just won a Super Bowl ring as a 3-year member of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line; 2) a year as Sacramento State’s tight ends coach (spring) and offensive line coach (fall); 3) a single season as an assistant at Baylor University that was so effective that his work with the Bears’ tight ends (including the 2nd overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Jason Smith) helped lead them to their best season in 10 years; 4) a year close to his Kennewick, Washington home as the running backs & tight ends coach at NAIA Southern Oregon University; 5) a four-year stint as a Montana State University assistant; 6) another four-year stretch as an assistant at Eastern Washington University where he coached 3 future NFL lineman: Tom Ackerman (Saints and Titans), Trent Pollard (Bengals) and Kevin Sargent (Bengals); and finally, 7) an extremely successful four-year tenure in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona University. Michael made an immediate impression when he joined the staff in 2000 as the running back and tight ends coach, since his main protégé, Marcus King, became the Lumberjacks’ all-time leading rusher (and still is); and the ‘Jacks reached the postseason in 2001. Orthmann was moved up to Associate Head Coach in ‘02, and led them to their 2nd postseason berth in the span of 3 years as well as the Big Sky Conference title in 2003. His high school coaching experience is as an assistant at Lake City High School in Idaho as well as Kennewick High School in his hometown.
Orthmann entered the coaching ranks after having his playing career cut short by a knee injury after starting on the offensive line for two seasons at the University of Idaho. Orthmann earned Bachelor’s Degrees in both history and education as well as his Master’s Degree in business administration from Eastern Washington University.
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Tony Mitchell, Jr.
Football - Offensive Line Coach
Email: Tony Mitchell
To hear him yell is rare, and that’s because when Tony Mitchell speaks to his charges, they stop and show their respect by listening intently to what he says. Mitchell is all about the lines, and he’s coached both of them very well during his four years of wearing Matador cardinal and gold. After overseeing such budding defensive line stars as NJCAA All-Americans Joel Walton and Ben Swarts as well as Alabama-bound stud Jesse Williams for two years, Mitchell shifted to the offensive side of the ball last season. No problem. He worked and tweaked the line throughout the year, creating a wall and a blocking scheme that would open holes for a pair of All-Region I/All-WSFL running backs, and help groom three linemen and a tight end to All-Region I & All-WSFL honors, with one lineman becoming an NJCAA All-American. Making adjustments and still excelling has become standard operating procedure for the Illinois native. Before ‘adjusting’ to Arizona in 2008, Mitchell and now-AWC Head Football Coach Tom Minnick were coaching mates at Joliet Junior College. In four years coaching both linebackers and defensive linemen, Mitchell helped lead them to a pair of bowl appearances. After his final season with JJC, Mitchell spent his spring and summer months of 2008 adjusting to life across the Atlantic in Hamburg, Germany, coaching for the Blue Devils German Football League. 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. |
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Josh Brewer
Football - Defensive Backs Coach/Strength & Conditioning Coach
Email: Josh Brewer
He’s known nothing but success on the field in his two previous years on the Matador Football coaching staff, and Josh Brewer has no intention of seeing that stop now. Brewer has gained the respect of his fellow coaches and the defensive backs he mentors in a short amount of time, and the results are obvious. Three of his four 2010 defensive backfield starters-Isiah Wiley, Antonio Evans and Drayquan Crawford-are all at NCAA Division I schools this year. Wiley was named the region’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year. And the lone returnee, Chris Young, will try for his second straight All-Region I/All-WSFL postseason selection this fall. Brewer has drawn from his 10 previous years of coaching experience while at AWC-all at the high school level. Brewer’s coaching career started Northridge High School in northern Colorado, helping to start up the football program as their defensive backs and quarterbacks coach, and making them an 8-win team that went to the 2nd round of the Colorado 3A State Playoffs in the span of just 3 years. After a two-year break from coaching, he then spent four years as quarterbacks coach at Greeley Central High School in Colorado before Tom Minnick gave Brewer his first chance to coach on the collegiate level at AWC. Brewer’s playing days are still rather fresh, since he spent 4 years playing for arena football for both the Colorado Venom and the Colorado Ice from 2004-2008. Before that, he was a defensive back for 2 years at NAIA school Bethany College, and for 2 more years at the University of Northern Colorado. Brewer earned both his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and his Master’s Degree in Sport & Exercise Science while at UNC. Besides overseeing the Mats’ defensive backfield, Josh also heads up the Matador strength program. He and his wife, Nicole, have been happily married for 9 years.
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Oliver Gibson
Football-Defensive Line Coach
E-Mail:
The dream for many who don the football jersey of the cardinal and gold is to get their college degree and then play in the NFL. It’s rarified air, and it’s air that Oliver Gibson has been a part of for the better part of the last 2 decades. The Matadors are Gibson’s first taste of coaching on the collegiate level, and his first taste of college since he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics while starring on the defensive line for 2 years (and earning Lineman of the Year) for the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame. Gibson had the unique honor of playing five years on the Irish varsity under the legendary Lou Holtz, and being part of five different bowl-bound squads because of it. His prowess on the college gridirion drew the interest of NFL scouts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the 4th round of the 1995 NFL Draft. That began an eight-year NFL career for Gibson, playing for the Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2003. Along the way, he learned from top coaches such as Bill Cowher, Dick LeBeau, Marvin Lewis and Jon Gruden, and also went to Super Bowl XXX as part of the Steelers’ 1996 team. The influence of the great coaches he played under inspired Gibson to become a coach himself, and after spending a couple of years away from the game, he started his coaching career in 2006 by returning home to his native Chicago and joining the coaching staff at Proviso West High School. He was a volunteer defensive assistant for three years at PWHS. This past year, he spent the summer as the defensive line coach at Simeon High School in Chicago, and the fall at the same position at Aurora Christian School in Illinois before getting the chance to coach at the college level for the Matadors. When he’s not coaching, Gibson runs his own independent record label, Gang Tackle, Inc.; and runs the Gibson-Maddie Sports Training Academy after-school & summer training camp for teens in Romeoville, Illinois. Gibson is also working to complete his Master’s of Arts Degree in English.
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James Magee
Football - Tight Ends Coach
E-Mail: James Magee
In Tom Minnick’s offense, tight end has the potential to be a marquee position, and so James Magee steps into an important job of molding those on the Matador roster with that title. Magee joined the Matador Football coaching staff in the spring of 2011, and has already become a valued member of the group. Magee comes to the Matadors looking for his first college coaching experience after spending the last two years as the offensive line coach at Ballard High School in his hometown of Seattle, Washington. The experience of assisting with the training, coaching and preparation of one of Seattle’s top 4A programs was a homecoming for Magee, since he was a star offensive tackle himself at Ballard. He played every position on the offensive and defensive lines at BHS. It was that prowess on the field for the Beavers that drew the interest of a few top four-year schools, including the school that gave him the chance to be part of one of the best football conferences in the nation and also stay close to home: Washington State University in Pullman. 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.
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