A rejuvenated coach taking over a storied football program that returns most of its starting offensive players from a league championship team is cause for excitement at Santa Barbara High.
Nate Mendoza begins his first season with a squad stocked with standout performers that went 9-2 and earned a share of the Channel League title in 2022 under former coach JT Stone.
Stone resigned after the season and moved his family to North Carolina.
What he left Mendoza is a talented, experienced group that has won a league title and been to the playoffs the past two years.
Mendoza returns to high school coaching after a six-year break. He was working in administration, serving as a vice principal at Santa Barbara High for the last 3 1/2 years.
“We have an excellent team coming back. We’re returning a lot of players on offense. The defense is still a little bit of a rebuild, but we still got some starters from last year and a lot of excellent coaches to go with it,” said Mendoza.
He last coached football at Dos Pueblos, guiding the Chargers to the 2017 Channel League title and the CIF-SS Division 10 final, where they fell short at Quartz Hill, 26-21.
He feels great being back on the field.
“I feel rejuvenated and I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be, that’s for sure, coaching football and coaching these young men,” he said. “I’m having a blast, it’s a lot of fun.”
Mendoza said he and Stone became friends when he came over to Santa Barbara.
“I have nothing but respect for what he did and the great program he put together here, and the talent he’s accumulated here.
“The good news is our styles are not too far off.”
After getting hired, he recalled being asked by Santa Barbara fans if he was going to throw the ball, as they were accustomed to Stone’s affinity toward the passing game.
“I was kind of laughing and said, ‘Of course I am.’ I’m going to play to the strengths of the team, and we are definitely a strong passing team. But, we’re returning all our offensive linemen from last year, so that says something.
“They’ve done a good job of adapting to a lot of different run styles that we want to incorporate this year.”
Mendoza has the luxury of having three-year starting quarterback Abel Renteria, who can move the chains with his arm and his feet.
He was the Channel League Offensive MVP last year after passing for more than 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns, and rushing for 446 yards and nine scores.
“Abel’s going to get 10-15 carries himself again,” said Mendoza of his 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback, who has more than 23 varsity games under his belt.
Renteria admitted he was sad to see Stone leave because he and many of his teammate learned from him as younger players.
“But Mendoza is an incredible coach,” he said. “He pushes us to limits that we didn’t even know we had, and he wants the best for us. He’s been in this for a while.
“He took DP to the (CIF) championship a few years ago and just fell short. That makes him want to motivate us more. We’d like to get one for him and for each other.”
Senior Koa Herrera (5-7, 165) returns at running back. He’s a durable player who can pound the ball inside, pop outside and pick up big yards.
A newcomer in the backfield is Bode Fauskee, a 5-10, 180-pound junior from last year’s JV team.
“He runs like a man possessed,” said offensive coordinator Dave Stott, who enters his 13th year as a football coach at Santa Barbara.
The receiving corps is loaded with returning talent: junior Kai Mault (6-0, 180) was the Channel League’s wide receiver of the year. He caught 42 passes for 932 yards and 10 TDs.
Senior Winston Bartley has been Renteria’s big-play threat. He caught 39 passes for 558 yards and four touchdowns and earned second-team all-league honors.
Senior Jack Holdren (6-3, 180) is sure-handed and a tough runner after the catch. Juniors Tomas Gil (5-9, 160) and Sammie Congdon (5-10, 160) and sophomore Monte Lopez (5-11, 170) also will be counted on to make plays.
The Dons are blessed with an experienced offensive line. Led by senior center and all-league first team selection AJ Gomez (5-7, 255) the tight-knit group of seniors Javier Tinoco (6-0, 255), Noah Napoles (5-10, 230), Adrian Chavez (6-2, 260) and sophomore Malachi Johnston (6-3, 255) jelled last season and became a force.
Chavez, Napoles and Johnston earned all-league honors, and Johnston has received an early college offer from Nevada.
“All our linemen are a bunch of hard workers,” said Gomez. “We’re all strong, we work hard in the weight room and on the field, and we especially work hard in the classroom.”
Stott, whom Mendoza named associate head coach, will handle the offensive coordinator duties.
He said changes in the attack will be minimal.
“Our kids are too talented to hit a reset. On Day 1, we hit the ground running. We’ll take what we have and keep building on what JT had and keep getting better,” said Stott.
On defense, Mendoza said there will be linemen who play both ways.
“Guys have been doing a good job of getting in shape. I’ve been asking them to run probably more than they’re used to, but kids playing on both sides of the ball got to be in shape.”
Seniors Chaz Rosales (5-10, 180) and Mikey Cabral (5-8, 190) lead the linebacking corps. Senior Ivan Hernandez (6-0, 215) and Fauskee are also in the mix at the position.
Senior cornerback Jordan Mitchum (6-0, 175) has taken a leadership role in a rebuilt secondary. He’s working with senior Jonathan Ortega (5-9, 165), who saw action last season, junior DJ Wilson (6-0, 165), and the sophomore Lopez.
The Dons play two tough non-league opponents in Thousand Oaks and Valencia before entering the final year of the Channel League against Pacifica at home on Sept. 1. They shared the league title with Rio Mesa last season.
“Our kids have been saying since January that they don’t want to share a league title, so they got work to do,” said Mendoza
Santa Barbara High Schedule
Friday, Aug. 18 @ Thousand Oaks
Friday, Aug. 25 Valencia
Friday, Sept. 1 Pacifica#
Friday, Sept. 8 San Marcos#
Thursday, Sept. 14 Oxnard#
Friday, Sept. 22 @ Ventura#
Friday, Sept. 29 @ Rio Mesa#
Friday, Oct. 13 @ Channel Islands#
Friday, Oct. 20 @ Dos Pueblos#
Friday, Oct. 27 Buena#
#Channel League games
All games at 7 p.m.