Our Coaches
Don Morrow - Varsity Head Coach
Don Morrow enters his 31st year as head coach of the Mustangs, having achieved over 300 wins in his career. Known for instilling fierce camaraderie and team commitment, Coach Morrow was a three-sport star and all-CIF quarterback for the former Aviation High School Falcons where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Roxanne. All three of their sons played for Mira Costa where Morrow is also a chemistry teacher. Morrow considers the development of character more important than skill, yet has still helped more than 30 former Mustangs reach all-CIF, including nine CIF “Players of the Year” and five of his former players have earned time with the NFL and AFL teams.
Ray Lee - Defensive Coordinator
Ray Lee has worked with Coach Morrow since joining his staff at South Torrance in ‘92. Lee accompanied Morrow in 1993 for the first CIF title in Mira Costa history. They followed that with another eight tries at the title with victories in 1997, 1993 and 2009. Coach Lee runs the security program at Mira Costa and married the love of his life in 2017, Ms. Stacie Speaker. He lives with his wife in El Segundo with their very vocal terrier, Sophie.
Arnold Dotson - Varsity Assistant Coach
This is Coach Dotson’s eighth year with the Varsity coaching staff, after being the defensive coordinator for the freshman team. He’s now coached over 30 years, refereed over 16 years and coached youth sports for 20 years. During his time away from the field, he has put Los Angeles Police Department recruits through rigorous mental and physical training for the past 28 years. A former football and track star for his alma mater, St. Bernard’s in Playa Del Rey, Coach Dotson graduated from Cal State Northridge. He and his wife, Ana, have three children, Amy, Adrien, and Ashlee (all Costa Alumni). They also have five grandchildren, Ehlina, Alyce, Samuel, Sarai, and Avery.
Jeff Michael - Varsity Assistant Coach
After a 23-year hiatus, Coach Michael is in his 2nd year of coaching at Costa. His previous coaching was done at both the collegiate and high school levels with stops at Idaho State, University of Chicago, Western Washington and as a student assistant at the University of Washington. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington and played football at Montana State and the University of Washington. A long snapper at Montana State, he played with Coach Derrick Abell on the school’s 1984 National Championship team. He is married to his wife, Julie, for the past 26 years and they have three sons.
Cassius “Cash” Pierce - Varsity Assistant Coach
We are excited to. have Cash join the coaching staff for Costa Football this year. Cash has been a big influence to athletes across the South Bay and greater Los Angeles area. His professional career includes working at the NFL Combine, Mamba Sports Academy, United States Tennis Association and Velocity Sport Performance where he specializes in strength, conditioning and speed development. He established Full Circle Athletics in January 2020, training athletes from middle school to high school through college. In addition to strength and speed training, he’ll be assisting Coach Morrow with the offensive line, wide receivers and strength and agility training.
Greg Holt - Varsity Assistant Coach
Coach Holt begins his 2nd season with the Mustangs as the Safeties coach. Coach Holt joined the staff last year after a 29-year Head Coaching tenure at West High in Torrance. Prior to his time at West, Coach Holt spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach at Long Beach State. While at LBSU, he enjoyed coaching with recently retired NFL Coaches, John Fox (Denver Broncos) and Marvin Lewis (Cincinatti Bengals), and Mike Sheppard. In 1990, he had the pleasure of coaching with the late NFL Hall of Fame Coach, George Allen. Greg is honored to be a member of Coach Morrow’s staff. He has always respected Coach Morrow, his staff and football organization. Coach Holt currently resides in Torrance with his High School sweetheart, his wonderful wife, Linda.
Bill Fournell – Junior Varsity Head Coach
Coach Fournell, was born and raised in Manhattan Beach. He played football with Coach “Donnie” Morrow at Aviation High School, earning “All Conference” honors. He then went on to play at El Camino College and Cal State Northridge, where he continued to excel. He is in his 2nd season with the Mustang JV team and works with linebackers, defensive and offensive line tight ends. Coach Fournell is recently retired from business consulting and marketing. He continues to live in Manhattan Beach with his wife, Grettel. They have four children, three daughters and a son, who all graduated from Mira Costa. He enjoys backpacking, road cycling, working out and is in his 19th year as an AYSO referee.
Brad Angelari - Junior Varsity Assistant Coach
Coach Angelari continues to dedicate his football coaching to both the JV team as well as the varsity running backs. His 29 years of experience has been instrumental in shaping young athletes. Brad also coaches the Mira Costa baseball team and for 22 years has developed dedication and discipline in all fields. When he is not coaching, he enjoys the beach, bike riding and spending time with his grandchildren. He and his wife live in Hermosa Beach and have been married for over 40 years!
Ben Karp - Junior Varsity Assistant Coach
This is Ben’s 3rd Season with the JV team after two years of coaching the freshman team. Ben is the Defensive Coordinator for the JV Mustangs. Ben also works with the wide receivers when it is time for the offense. Ben was born and raised in Saugus, CA and brings a tremendous passion and energy both for the game itself, as well as for the teaching and mentoring of our athletes. Karp strives for our athletes to take ownership of themselves on and off the field through the camaraderie , playing hard and being a student of the game. Ben lives in Manhattan Beach and has three children and A French Bulldog named “Maizy”. When he is not coaching, he owns and operates a network of skilled nursing facilities in Southern California.
Colin Kaiser - Junior Varsity Assistant Coach
Coach Kaiser is returning to the JV team after a two-year hiatus. Colin was raised in Washington DC, and loves the lessons football teaches to young men. He brings a strong knowledge of the game and a passion to play the game the right way he wants to pass along to the players. He lives in Manhattan Beach and has three children. When he is no coaching, Colin is an active volunteer with Team Rubicon.
Chuck Currier - Freshman Head Coach
To Coach Currier, Mira Costa is the center of the universe. He was a member of the Mustang’s 1970 Bay League Championship football team under legendary coach and teacher, Bill Cooper, for whom our field is dedicated. It was Coach Cooper who first got Chuck involved in coaching football at Costa in 1973, just a year after graduation, and on the road to becoming a teacher soon thereafter. Coach Currier often says that many of his lifelong friendships can be traced back to his frosh football teammates of 1968. Chuck attended Long Beach State and earned a master’s degree in Economics and a teaching credential. He taught at Costa for 25 years and this is his 37th season coaching Mustang Football. His daughter, Dana, is a Costa graduate and a veterinarian in Long Beach. His wife, Susan, taught high school for 50 years. When not coaching, Currier teaches backpacking and outdoor skills through the Sierra Club.
Frank Wicks - Freshman Assistant Coach
Now in his 20th year of coaching Mira Costa Football and his 13th year as offensive coordinator, this former Aviation High School “Falcon” is gearing up for another strong season with the Freshman Mustangs. Coach Wicks shares his glory days of football and baseball with fellow coaches, Morrow and Angeleri and went on to graduate from Long Beach State with a degree in Liberal Arts and a multiple subject teaching credential. He has spent his entire life in the South Bay, including 42 years working for the LAX Marriott in guest services. He and his wife, Cyndi, have three children and two grandchildren.
Derrick Abell - Freshman Assistant Coach
Coach Derrick Abell attended Inglewood High School where he earned a football scholarship to Montana State University. He went on to earn a B.A. degree in Speech Communications and serve as a member of the school’s 1984 National Championship football team. Coach Abell returned to Los Angeles to pursue a career in law enforcement and in 1991 joined the Manhattan Beach Police Department. He has served the Manhattan Beach Community for over 27years and currently serves as the Chief of Police. He also has an M.S. degree in Emergency Services Management from Trident University International and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has spent many years teaching and mentoring young men while focusing on the development of the character and life skills needed for future success. He is married with two children and in his spare time enjoys camping with his family and riding his Harley Davidson.
John Giovati - Freshman Assistant Coach
A graduate of Mira Costa, Class of ‘73, Coach Gio has been a part of the Mustang athletic legacy for almost 50 years. He played both football and baseball for the Mustangs and is now in his fifth season, coaching Freshman Football at Mira Costa. He also coaches the freshman baseball team at Costa and has spent many years coaching youth baseball and football. Coach Gio has five sons (!!), three of which played football at Costa. Coach Giovati also spent 8 years in the administration offices at Mira Costa High School in the 1990’s.
Franklin Ortiz - Trainer
Franklin Ortiz PT, DPT, OCS, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over 19years of experience in healthcare and rehabilitation, including sports-specific rehabilitation, functional design mobility, stability training, and post-graduate advanced manual training. He developed an interest in healthcare and sports physical therapy as he was involved in various sports like football, baseball, cross country, surfing, and weight lifting. He is passionate about helping people reach their exercise, fitness, and sport goals.Franklin earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science at Loma Linda University. He is currently a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist, Emergency Medical Responder for Sport Venues, and the Head Trainer at Mira Costa High School.
Duke Winser - Videographer, Statistician, Spiritual Leader
Retired Manhattan Beach Middle School humanities teacher Duke Winser has been assisting Mira Costa Football for many years in many ways. Duke primarily shoots video at practices and games, tabulates statistics, and works with the coaches to get the athletes ready for the big game on Friday night. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Biola University in 1977, and then graduated from Talbot Seminary three years later. He has four children and seven grandchildren.
Emmersyn Stoddard – Team Manager
Junior, Emmersyn Stoddard, has been on the sideline and in the trainers room with the team since July 2021. She helps manage the equipment, assists trainer Franklin Ortiz with injuries, and makes sure all players stay hydrated during practices and games. Her love for football makes it easy to help with anything the team needs. Being the manager for the Varsity team has been extra special for Emmersyn. Her brother is a senior on the team this year and she is so grateful for the shared memories made on the field with him and his teammates. As an athlete herself, she says, “I understand the amount of commitment, hard work and heart it takes to be a student athlete. This is a special group of players and coaches and an experience I’ll never forget!”
