MIKE TAYLOR
Head Coach
13th Season, 52-71 (.423)
Marking his 26th season as a part of the Orange Coast program and more than 30 overall as both a coach and player, Mike Taylor is beginning his 13th season as the head coach of the Pirates.
The former Oregon State standout and all-Pacific Eight Scholastic Team linebacker in 1974, Taylor begins season No. 35 in the coaching ranks. He arrived at Coast in 1986 from Laguna Hills High School.
Beginning his coaching career in 1976 at Santa Ana, Taylor joined former Coast kingpin Bill Workman at Edison high the following year for four seasons, helping the Chargers to the first of back-to-back CIF Big Five Conference crowns in 1979.
His tenure at Laguna Hills began in 1980 where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. He took a one-year sabbatical from Laguna Hills in 1983 to be the head coach at Placer High in Auburn, CA.
Taylor earned his bachelor of science from Oregon State, a teaching credential at Cal State Fullerton and a master of arts from Cal State Long Beach.
In his spare time, Taylor enjoys working out, playing golf and skiing. He and his wife, Jo Ann, who graduated from OCC in 1972, live in Huntington Beach. They have two daughters, Nicole and Melanie.
DOUG SMITH
Offensive Line
Doug Smith enters his 13th campaign as a Coast assistant. A 14-year NFL veteran, Smith earned six trips to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Smith, a native of Columbus, Ohio, played collegiately at Bowling Green University before being drafted by the Rams. He was a member of the Rams' 1979 Super Bowl team. Before coming to Coast, Smith coached offensive and defensive line at USC. Smith resides in Mission Viejo with his wife, Debbie. They have two daughters, Jessica and Jenna and one son, Cole.
STEVE FULLMER
Running Backs
The Coast ground game will once again be under the direction of Steve Fullmer, back for his ninth season as part of Mike Taylor’s staff. In 2004, Fullmer had the chance to have his son, Morgan, on the squad with him and in 2007, his younger son and current OCC assistant, Austin, joined the Pirates’ squad. When not on the practice field with the Pirates, Fullmer is a chiropractor and has his own practice in Huntington Beach where he resides.
JOEL WITTENBERG
Defensive Line Coordinator
The defensive line will once again be watched over for a seventh season by Joel Wittenberg. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Wittenberg brings 15 years of coaching experience to the Pirates’ staff. Prior to arriving at Coast, Wittenberg spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Trabuco Hills High School. Before heading over to Coast in the afternoons, Wittenberg teaches economics and United States history at Trabuco Hills, before coming to OCC to coach. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Lake Forest with their two sons, Thomas and Andrew.
JOHN YOUNG
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
In his fourth year of his second stint on the Pirate sidelines, John Young continues his fine work with the OCC linebackers, just as he did for eight seasons from 1989-1996. Young’s LBs were one big piece of OCC’s Mission Conference championship puzzle in 1990. Prior to his first stint with Coast, Young was a defensive coordinator for Saddleback High School, where he helped lead the Roadrunners to a CIF championship in 1985 a Sea View League title in 1986 and a trip to the CIF semifinals in 1988. Not just skilled as a football coach, Young also coached the SHS baseball team from 2002-2006. In his playing days, Young attended UC Davis and was a three-year player for the Aggies. John and his wife, Lisa, live in Irvine and have three kids, Brandi, Zak and Danielle. When he’s not coaching, Jim enjoys playing golf in his spare time.
JACK WIGMORE
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
With over 35 years of coaching experience, Jack Wigmore brings his knowledge to the Orange Coast sidelines for his first season with the Pirates. Wigmore comes to Coast after posting a 53-22 record in seven years as head coach of Winston Churchill High School (OR) of the Midwestern League. During his tenure with the Lancers, Wigmore was a three-time Midwestern League Coach of the Year. A longtime Churchill HS employee, Jack spent 25 years at CHS as a teacher, an assistant coach and head coach. As a player, Wigmore was a standout player at Mater Dei High School, earning the team's first-ever Parade All-American honor as the quarterback of the Monarchs. After Mater Dei, Wigmore played two seasons at Washington State University and later attended the University of Oregon. Wigmore is single and resides in Huntington Beach, where he enjoys racing his Corvette and flying airplanes.
KENT NERHUS
Defensive Assistant/Secondary
Back for this fourth year on the OCC coaching staff is Kent Nerhus. With seven years of coaching experience, Nerhus will help with the defensive backs as well as help videotape the Pirates’ games for future teaching and practice tools. A current employee of OCC, Kent was also a former student here at Orange Coast College and he currently resides in Huntington Beach. He is single and enjoys spending time at the beach and spending time with his family.
TERENCE TROUP
Wide Receivers
Joining the OCC sidelines for first season (21st coaching season overall) is Terry Troup. Troup's trek to Coast has been an impressive journey to say the least, hosting a resume that includes being a published author, a member of the NFL Films Blue Ribbon Panel for "America's Game" and a football coordinator/consultant for George Clooney in the movie, "Leatherheads". Troup has coached on many league/conference championship teams including Anaheim High School, Mater Dei High School, Riverside College and Fullerton College. He helped RCC to the Mission Conference title and a win in the Pony Bowl in 1986. In 1991, Troup helped guide the Hornets to the Potato Bowl title. As an athlete, Troup played college football at Millikin University and later, he earned his degree at Cal State Fullerton. Terence and his wife, Jo Ann, reside in Tustin and are the parents of three adult kids, Steve, Sarah and Daniel.
AUSTIN FULLMER
Defensive Assistant/Linebackers
Another former Pirate will be returning to the OCC sidelines as Austin Fullmer joins Taylor's staff for his first season (fourth overall). The son of longtime assistant Steve Fullmer, Austin played at Orange Coast in 2006, helping the Pirates to a 7-3 record and a trip to the Beach Bowl -- OCC's last bowl appearance. From there, Austin moved on to Cal State Fullerton, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Austin's main responsibility will be helping out the linebackers and the rest of the defensive coaching staff. When not on the football field, Fullmer enjoys playing music, watching his favorite football team -- the San Francisco 49ers -- spending time with his girlfriend, Melissa and his dog, Raya.