Former Orange Coast College assistant Vincent Mesa named new football coach at Uni

Vincent Mesa has been named the head coach at University. (Photo courtesy University football)

Former Orange Coast College assistant coach Vincent Mesa has been hired as the Trojans new head football coach, according to Athletic Director Tom Shrake, He replaces Chris Hernandez, who moved with his family to South Dakota to take another coaching position.

Hernandez coached one full season and two games into an abbreviated spring season in March before the Trojans had to cancel the rest of the games due to injuries.

Mesa also has ties with Huntington Beach High School, where he played football.

“First off, it is an honor for me to be head varsity football coach at University High,” Mesa said Monday. “I am overly excited about the opportunity to coach at University as it’s a school that I’ve always held in high regard. I plan to bring all my experience, passion, and work ethic to the program.

“I have tremendous support from the people up top and look forward to establishing a relationship with the school community at large. I am already working every day to ensure that I put my best foot forward as coach of this program. To the players, it’s time to roll our sleeves up, as student-athletes, as global citizens. I look forward to our journey together.”

“University High School is excited to announce that Vincent Mesa will be our new football head coach,” University officials said in the release.

“Coach Mesa comes to us most recently from Orange Coast College, where he was the running backs coach and run game coordinator. Coaches that know him praise his knowledge for the game, his patience and his enthusiasm. Prior to coaching at OCC, Coach Mesa coached overseas with the Oslo Vikings in Norway.

“He worked with and was eventually the head coach of the U15, U19, and even the Elite Team in Norway. His teams won numerous national championships as Coach Mesa honed his skills working with players from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Coach Mesa was also an assistant coach at Magnolia High School in Anaheim. He played a part in helping Magnolia win their first league championship in over 40 years in 2010.”

Mesa attended Huntington Beach High School, where he played football, officials added. He continued his playing career at Golden West College and then went on to play at Minot State University in North Dakota where he was a member of the conference champion team in 2002.”

Officials added that Mesa is also a professor of both Film Production and Sound Design at Orange Coast College.

“We are excited for Coach Mesa to put his stamp on the University High School Football program. He has all of the tools necessary to lead our teams to success and the values needed to help shape our student athletes into motivated, responsible, and hard-working adults,” officials added in the release.

“He’s a great guy that I know will have a lasting positive impact on our players” added Shrake, the athletic director at Uni.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com