Football

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Henry Browne
playing football

Coach Henry Browne takes over as Head Coach after having been either the Defensive or Offensive Coordinator at Mesa College since 1994. Mesa is coming off of a 2008 Mountain Conference Championship and a berth in the California State Playoffs, and Coach Browne is continuing that level of success for the Olympians. "My primary goal is to provide a quality program from top to bottom, excelling on the field as well as academicly." Mesa has sent more football players on to universitiies in the past 10 years than any of the Community Colleges in San Diego County, and more than most Community Colleges in the state. The great success in our football players transfering is in large part due to the commitment to academics by the Coaching Staff as well as the College Administration. During his tenure, Mesa’s defensive units have ranked among the top in the Foothill Conference and in the State. Since 1994 Mesa has had dozens of players earn Division I scholarships and 2 players go on to play in the NFL. In each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Mesa’s football team had 10 players in each season with 3.5 GPA’s or higher. In addition to coaching, Coach Browne teaches in Mesa’s Fitness Specialist Certification program, preparing students for careers as personal trainers and exercise professionals. Coach Browne is married and has three children.

Martin Moss, Line Coordinator
playing football

Martin Moss enters his nineteenth year coaching community college football in the San Diego area. He brings with him a coaching and playing background that provides a foundation for success. Coach Moss is in his eleventh year as a member of the Mesa College football staff serving nine years as Head Coach. For five years he served as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Grossmont College. He also was the Head Coach at San Diego City College. His current role at Mesa will be as Line Coordinator, which involves teaching technique to both the offensive and defensive linemen.

Coach Moss is a local product, having graduated from Lincoln High School. He earned a football scholarship to UCLA and spent four years with the Detroit Lions as a defensive lineman. His academic background includes a Bachelors degree from UCLA in Sociology; a Masters Degree from San Diego State University in Counseling; and a second Masters Degree from National University in Educational Technology. Martin Moss is also a counselor in the San Diego Community College District at the Miramar campus. Coach Moss is married with two children.

Chris Jewell, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
playing football

Former San Diego Mesa defensive end Chris Jewell returns for his third year on the Olympians Staff, including his second as defensive coordinator. In 2009, five players on the Olympians' defense earned All-Mountain Conference, including linebacker Josh Fely and safety John Pike who both earned 1st-Team All-State recognition. The 2009 defense racked up over 27 turnovers in a ten game span. In 2008, the linebacker unit produced All-Mountain Conference linebacker Michael Johnson, as well as two players currently competing on FBS rosters.

Before returning to San Diego Jewell coached with the Nidaros Domers of the Norwegian American Football Federation and at the University of Ottawa, Ontario. Jewell helped establish a defense ranked fourth in Canada while coaching the defensive line in 2005.

Coach Jewell believes that a commitment to excellence, establishing relationships, and hard work provide the foundations for success. He firmly believes that the game of football teaches life-lessons and prepares student-athletes to be successful on and off the field. During his career he has had the opportunity to coach offensive line, defensive line, and linebackers as well as coordinating. Jewell earned first team all-conference honors at Mesa in 1998 before accepting a scholarship to Idaho State University. He finished his college career playing at Concordia University in Montreal.

Thad Porlas, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
playing football

Coach Thad Porlas begins his second coaching stint at Mesa. After coaching the Wide Receivers at Mesa from 1997 to 2001, Coach Porlas has had sucessful coaching stops at University of San Diego (DBs), the San Diego Riptide of Arena Football, and Cathedral Catholic High School (QBs and OC). This included Cathedral’s record setting run to the California State Championship in 2008. Now Coach Porlas coaches the QB’s and Coordinates the Offense for Mesa’s explosive, Pro-Style Offense.

Tom Ryan, Strength and Conditioning, Special Teams Coordinator
playing football

Coach Tom Ryan is continuing to coach the strength and conditioning program here at Mesa, as well as Coordinating the Special Teams units. Mesa’s Strength and Conditioning Program continues to be a Division I level appraoch to strength, speed and athletic development. Coach Ryan played Fullback at Mesa in 1996 before finishing his college playing career at Humbolt State. Coach Ryan is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The Strength and Conditioning program at Mesa has been one of the top programs, helping produce bigger, faster, stronger student athletes that have gone on to top universities.

Marc Hollman, Defensive Line

Coach Marc Hollman is in his second coaching stint at Mesa. Coach Hollman coached the Defensive Line, Tight Ends and Receivers at Mesa from 1997 to 2004 and now returns in a similar capacity to coach the Defensive Line. Coach Hollman is a full-time academic Couselor in the San Diego Community College District (of which Mesa is a part) at our Miramar campus.

Joda Wolfe, Defensive Backs
playing football

Coach Joda Wolfe is now in his third season with the Mesa coaching staff. He looks forward to the challenge of improving upon the 2008 conference championship season, and 2009 All-State Free Safety John Pike’s outstanding season that led California in Interceptions with 10. He believes that diligent effort and optimism are the key ingredients to accomplishing great things. Coach Wolfe has sixteen years of football experience, either playing or coaching. He played defensive back for most of his career culminating at Northeastern State University. He eventually transferred to the University of Colorado, earning a degree in Economics.

Mike Ward, Offensive Line

Coach Michael Ward, returns to Mesa College for his fifth season coaching the Offensive Line. He was an Offensive Assistant from 2004 to 2008 at Mesa, before spending two seasons as Head Coach, at Crawford High School. Coach Ward, believes that hard work in the classroom, weight room and on the field are the keys to success in football and beyond, in that order. Several of his players have gone on to play at 4 year universities and graduated.

A native San Diegan, Ward attended La Jolla High School, where he played football and earned All Western League honors in both Wrestling and Track and Field. After High School, he played Offensive Line at Los Angeles Pierce College, San Diego City College and Western Oregon University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Ward played five seasons of Semi Professional Football in Texas, Sacramento and Los Angeles. While in college, Coach Ward was a professional Bungee Jumper and performed in live action stunt shows at theme parks in the US and abroad. Currently, he works in Special Education and teaches drama at a local Jr. high school. He enjoys San Diego's beaches, The Padres and attending live theatre when time permits.

James Kilmer, Running Backs