San Marino High School Names Justin Mesa as New Head Football Coach

San Marino High School has hired Justin Mesa as the new head football coach for the Titan Football team. Mesa, who has 18 years of coaching and administrative experience, will also serve as a physical education teacher at San Marino High School.

Mesa will begin working alongside Coach Mike Hobbie, who is retiring after eight highly successful years at SMHS, on May 1. Coach Hobbie said, “I’m excited! He was my top choice. Coach Mesa has been around some high-level programs and knows what it takes to do a good job. He’s the guy who can keep our winning traditions going.”

After accepting the position, Mesa said: “While I understand that replacing Coach Hobbie leaves big shoes to fill, I am excited about the opportunity to build on a program that exemplifies all the traits and characteristics of a high-level football organization. I look forward to continuing to develop a program that will make the entire community of San Marino proud.”

Mesa, 36, comes to San Marino HS from the University of Wyoming, where he spent the last two years as the Director of Recruiting. Under his direction, the University enjoyed its highest-rated recruiting class among Mountain West Conference programs since 2011.

Before his time in Wyoming, Mesa served on the coaching staff at Dixie State University where he coached the wide receivers in 2016. Mesa also coordinated the field goal and the point-after-touchdown units on special teams for the Trailblazers. In the spring of 2017, he was promoted to passing game coordinator. He recruited southern and central California, as well as the state of Utah while at Dixie State.

Mesa served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Loyola High School in Los Angeles for three seasons from 2013-15. In 2015, the Loyola Cubs enjoyed their best record since 2005 at 9-3, advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs in the Pac-5 division. In 2013, Mesa coached Nico Evans, who was named to the Pac-5 division All – CIF football team.

Mesa spent six seasons serving in a variety of administrative and coaching roles at the University of Southern California from 2007-12. He originally was involved as a recruiting and operations assistant at USC in 2007. In 2008, Mesa assisted in coaching the Trojan wide receivers. The 2009 season saw Mesa being hired as a graduate assistant coach. He was elevated to an assistant quarterback coaching position in 2010. For two seasons from 2011-12, Mesa coached the USC tight ends.

While at USC, Mesa was part of the Trojans’ Rose Bowl Championship teams at the conclusion of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He was also on the coaching staff when USC won the 2009 Emerald Bowl and earned a berth in the 2012 Sun Bowl.

Mesa began his coaching career as the secondary coach on the junior varsity level at his alma mater Cathedral High School for 3 seasons (2000-2002). He lettered in both Football and Baseball while attending Cathedral High School.

Mesa completed his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from USC in 2007. He is currently working on his master’s degree in communication, also through USC.

He and his wife Angelina have 3 children: Haylie (15), Julian (5), Lucca (2).

San Marino High School, 2701 Huntington Drive, San Marino, (626) 299-7020 or visit www.sanmarinohs.org.