Coaching Staff

Tim Walsh
Head Coach • Second Year • UC Riverside '77
4-7 at Cal Poly (Second Year)
121-89 overall (19 Years)

Tim Walsh, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the United States Military Academy the last two seasons, was named Cal Poly’s 16th head football coach on Jan. 9, 2009, and guided the Mustangs to a 4-7 mark in his first campaign.

“Tim Walsh brings all of the qualities we were looking for in a head coach for our football team,” Cal Poly director of athletics Alison Cone said. “He is a quality leader who understands the unique culture at Cal Poly. He knows how to help young men reach their potential in the classroom, as citizens, and on the football field. We had several outstanding applicants from which to choose, but I am thrilled we were able to hire a person with such outstanding credentials to direct our program.

“He has the ability to continue the success the Cal Poly football program has enjoyed the last six years and that the community and the university will be proud of and excited to support,” Cone added.

Walsh replaced Rich Ellerson, the Mustangs’ head football coach for the last eight seasons. Ellerson was named head coach at Army on Dec. 26, 2008.

“We had several outstanding applicants from which to choose, but I am thrilled we were able to hire a person with such outstanding credentials to direct this program,” Cone said of Walsh. “He is a high-character, high-quality individual who will bring great passion and enthusiasm to our campus.”

Walsh has compiled a 121-89 record in 19 seasons as a college head coach, including four years at Sonoma State (27-14 from 1989-92), 14 more seasons at Portland State (90-68 from 1993-2006) and one at Cal Poly (4-7 in 2009). He guided Sonoma State to the Northern California Athletic Conference title in 1991 (ending UC Davis’ streak of 20 consecutive conference titles), a pair of NCAA Division II playoff berths while at Sonoma State and four more postseason berths while at Portland State.

“I have a tremendous working knowledge of Cal Poly, its history and current status,” said Walsh. “The combination of a tremendous academic university, a tremendous area to recruit and live, and a football program that’s winning all added up to a great opportunity for me.

“My goals are to continue to recruit student-athletes whose goals are to be the best they can be, both in the class and on the field, and become quality young men,” Walsh added. “If we do that, winning won’t be a problem. This is an opportunity to build a great program and develop a great relationship between the campus and the community at large.”

Ted Tollner, former Mustang quarterback who has held numerous coaching positions at the college and professional levels, praised the hiring of Walsh.

“He did an excellent job at Portland State and is extremely well respected in the profession,” said Tollner. “Cal Poly had some great candidates for the position and I think he’s an excellent choice. He will keep the program moving forward and continue the success it has had in recent years.

“People who have worked for him have great respect for his total abilities from a recruiting standpoint, his communication with players, his sound philosophy and his winning record,” Tollner added. “His track record speaks for itself.”

Added Bobby Beathard, also a former Mustang who has held numerous positions in the NFL, including scout, personnel director and general manager, "Tim Walsh is a terrific choice. He will be a tireless recruiter, he knows what athletes are and what kind of athletes will fit into the program.

"I am excited about him. it's a great choice," Beathard added. "When you find a guy that is really good for you, you grab him and I am glad Cal Poly hired him."

A charismatic speaker and motivator, Walsh guided Sonoma State to three winning seasons in four years at the helm of the Seawolves and 10 more above-.500 campaigns in his 14-year term at Portland State. With the Vikings, Walsh coached 14 All-Americans and 11 Academic All-Americans.

Teri Mariani, who was director of athletics at Portland State when Walsh accepted the duties of offensive coordinator at Army, said at the time of his departure that “Tim showed great loyalty to our program and led us through a transition to Division I that a lot of coaches wouldn’t have wanted to do. He has had proven success both on the football field and off, and he’s always been such a team player within our department.

“Two words that describe him in my eyes are loyalty and class,” Mariani added. “In his 14 years (at Portland State), he has never done one thing that could change that opinion of him”

Portland State joined the Big Sky Conference in 1996. During Walsh’s 11 seasons when the Vikings were in the Big Sky, he coached players who earned 39 first-team All-Big Sky honors, 51 on the second team, 80 honorable mentions, 58 Academic All-Big Sky honorees, 59 Big Sky Players of the Week, 20 national player of the week honorees, five Walter Payton Award finalists and one Buck Buchanan Award finalist.

Cal Poly’s 2009 squad posted a 4-1 record at home, finished No. 6 in the nation in punt returns (15.60), No. 11 in turnover margin (+1.00), 19th in rushing offense (178.45 yards per game) and 23rd in time of possession (31:22) and was ranked as high as No. 12 in the national polls.

A total of 10 Mustangs earned All-Great West Conference first- or second-team honors, including first-teamers Jake Romanelli (Fullback), Ryan Shotwell (defensive end) and James Chen (defensive tackle).

A Serra High School (San Mateo, Calif.) graduate, Walsh played football at UC Riverside in the mid-1970s as a backup quarterback and earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1977.

He began his coaching career at his high school alma mater, Serra, spending four years (1977-80) as an assistant coach before becoming head coach (1981-85) at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward. Walsh moved into the college coaching ranks in 1986, becoming an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Santa Clara for one season.

In 1987 and 1988, Walsh was offensive coordinator at Sonoma State before becoming head coach of the Seawolves (then the Cossacks) in 1989. His first season in Rohnert Park produced a 4-6 mark, but Walsh guided Sonoma State to 7-3, 9-2 and 7-3 records in his final three years there.

Walsh embarked upon a 14-year head coaching career at Portland State in 1993, guiding the Vikings to NCAA Division II playoff berths each of his first three seasons.

Portland State elevated its athletics program to Division I in 1996 and, though the Vikings struggled in the first three years at that level, there was steady progression -- from 3-8 to 4-7 and 5-6. The 1999 Viking team began a string of seven winning campaigns in eight seasons, including a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) playoff berth in 2000.

Walsh piloted Portland State to a quartet of second-place finishes in the Big Sky along with a third and three fourth-place finishes. In 14 seasons at the helm, Walsh’s Vikings were 62-21 at home. He earned two wins against FBS schools -- Hawaii in 2001 and New Mexico in 2006 -- and was 3-0 against Cal Poly while at Portland State along with a 2-1 mark against the Mustangs while at Sonoma State.

Walsh was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year) in 1999
In 2008, Walsh’s second season at Army, the Black Knights finished ninth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense (241.42 yards per game), fourth in sacks allowed (1.00) and 15th in time of possession (31:45).

While at Army, Walsh’s recruiting responsibilities included nine Western states.

The list of coaches who were assistants under Walsh includes Dan Hawkins (Colorado), Gary Patterson (Texas Christian) and Chris Peterson (Boise State). National Football League players who competed under Walsh’s tutelage include -- from Sonoma State -- offensive lineman Larry Allen (Dallas) -- and from Portland State -- tight end Tony Curtis (Dallas), wide receiver Shaun Bodiford (Green Bay), linebacker Jordan Senn (Indiana-polis) and linebacker Adam Hay-ward (Tampa Bay).

Walsh and his wife, Jody, have four children: Luke (30), Casey (25), Sean (23) and Megan (16).

Bryan Cook
Co-Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks) • Second Year
Ithaca '98
Recruiting Area: South/North/East Bay Area

Bryan Cook, 34, was hired in January 2009 as Cal Poly's co-offensive coordinator and coaches the quarterbacks.

He served the previous four seasons as head coach at West Point Prep in Fort Monmouth, NJ, compiling a 28-22-1 record, including a 7-3 mark in 2008 and an 8-2 record in 2006. His teams competed against several top-10 community colleges and prep schools.

Cook, who earned the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service while coaching at West Point Prep, was defensive coordinator in the successful 2004 prep campaign, his first on post, achieving a 6-3 record with victories over Air Force Prep and Navy Prep. That squad gave up just 15.4 points and 233 yards per game.

Before joining the staff of former Army coach Bobby Ross in 2004, Cook served on staff at Georgia Tech for three seasons. The Yellow Jackets went to three consecutive bowl games during his time. In 2003 he coached the safeties, led by James Butler (New York Giants/St. Louis Rams) and Dawan Landry (Baltimore Ravens). Coaching the tight ends in 2002 he tutored NFL tight ends J.P. Foschi (Oakland Raiders) and Will Heller (Seattle Seahawks). During the 2001 season, Cook worked with the defensive backs and special teams for former Ross assistant George O’Leary.

Prior coaching stints involved stops at Lafayette College (2000, defensive assistant), and Ithaca College (1999, wide receivers). He was a four-year Dean’s List student at Ithaca, earning his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in December 1998, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and completing his master’s degree in exercise science in September 2000.

As a Bomber, he lettered in both football and lacrosse, earning all-conference honors in lacrosse as a defenseman. Cook was a starting strong safety on the gridiron when Ithaca captured ECAC Championships in 1996 and 1998.

Cook, originally from upstate New York, is married to his wife Julia and they have one child, Jackson Cook, born Jan. 12, 2010.

Saga Tuitele
Co-Offensive Coordinator (Offensive Line) • Second Year
Portland State '02
Recruiting Area: Inland Empire/North Orange County

Saga Tuitele, assistant offensive line coach at the United States Military Academy in 2007 and 2008, was named Cal Poly's co-offensive coordinator in charge of the offensive line in January 2009.

Tuitele served four seasons under Walsh at Portland State, coaching the defensive tackles, before following Walsh to Army prior to the 2007 campaign to coach the offensive line. He was instrumental in Portland State’s defensive dominance in the Big Sky Conference from 2004-2006. The vikings led the Conference in total defense (2004), rushing defense (2004) and scoring defense (2004, 2006).

In 2006, Portland State had a dominating duo in CJ Niusulu (first-team All-Big Sky Conference) and Matthis Gehring (second-team all-Big Sky). In 2004, Tuitele coached two of the top defensive linemen in the Big Sky Conference in Chris Berg and Chuck Jones, both named first-team All-Big Sky Conference.

Tuitele was the recruiting coordinator at Portland State in 2005 and 2006.

Although he twice earned All-Big Sky Conference honors and was an honorable mention All-American in his senior year as an offensive guard, Tuitele began his career at Portland State as a defensive tackle. He played two seasons on the defensive side of the ball, competing as a true freshman in 1997.

Then the San Bernardino, Calif., native moved to the offensive line in 1999 and experienced instant success as one of the top linemen in the league. He blocked for Viking great Charles Dunn, who rushed for over 3,000 yards, and quarterback Jimmy Blanchard, who threw for almost 6,000 yards and 46 touchdowns during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Tuitele, 30, earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from Portland State in 2002.

An all-CIF-Southern Section and all-state defensive lineman at Pacific High School in San Bernardino in the mid-1990s, Tuitele and his wife, Rachel, have two children, To’omalatai, 3, and Tifaimoana, born Jan. 20, 2010.

Greg Lupfer
Defensive Coordinator (Secondary) • Second Year
Portland State '94
Recruiting Area: Central Coast

Greg Lupfer joined Coach Tim Walsh's staff at Cal Poly in January 2009 as the team's defensive coordinator. He coached the linebackers last fall and will concentrate on the secondary this season.

Lupfer coached the safeties, outside linebackers and special teams at Toledo in 2008. Prior to his one-year coaching stint at Toledo, Lupfer coached for 12 seasons (1995-2006) at his alma mater, Portland State, including the final seven seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. During his tenure with the Vikings, all under the direction of Walsh, Lupfer’s defenses were among the top-rated in the Big Sky Conference.

In 2006, Portland State allowed just 12.4 points per game against conference foes, by far the best in the league. Overall, Portland State allowed 18.4 points per game, the fewest since joining the ranks of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) in 1996. The Vikings also forced 31 turnovers to rank second in the nation.

Lupfer’s best player on the 2006 team was linebacker Adam Hayward, the Big Sky Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS. Hayward now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lupfer’s defense also dominated the Big Sky in 2004, leading the league in every major category, including scoring defense (20.3), rushing defense (110.1) and total defense (346.3).

Prior to his post as defensive coordinator, Lupfer coached the Vikings’ defensive secondary and special teams from 1996-99. He was outside linebackers coach in 1995 at Portland State and, before that, coached the linebackers as a graduate assistant for one season at Boise State in 1994.

Lupfer was an outstanding linebacker for Portland State, earning All-Western League honors in 1991, leading the team in tackles and helping an 11-3 Viking team reach the NCAA Division II semifinals. He missed the 1992 season due to injury, but came back in 1993 to lead the Vikings back to the playoffs. He was credited with 177 tackles in his career.

Lupfer, 39, who also played at Walla Walla Community College in 1989 and 1990, is a June 1994 graduate of Portland State with a bachelor’s degree in social science. He and his wife Tina have three children, Taylor (14), Colby (11) and Demi (3).

Juston Wood
Wide Receivers • Second Year
Portland State '03
Recruiting Area: South Orange County/San Diego County

Juston Wood, who played in the Arena Football League for three seasons, was named wide receivers coach at Cal Poly in January 2009.

Wood was a quarterback for the New York Dragons in 2006, Philadelphia Soul in 2007 and back with the Dragons in 2008 before the Arena Football League suspended operations prior to the 2009 campaign. In those three years, he completed 140 of 230 passes (61 percent) for 1,531 yards and 25 touchdowns.

He played for the Central Valley Coyotes of af2 in 2005, earned second-team All-National Conference honors, led af2 in total offense averaging 282.4 yards per game and passed for 4,361 yards and 89 touchdowns. He also played for the Coyotes in 2004, completing 60 of 105 passes for 651 yards and 15 scores. Wood signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings on April 28, 2003, and was released on August 25.

Wood was a standout student-athlete under the tutelage of Walsh at Portland State, twice earning ADA Academic All-American honors. He was a first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection at quarterback in 2001 and honorable mention in 2002, serving as team captain both seasons.

Wood ended his collegiate career ranked sixth in school history with 5,681 yards of total offense and finished his career with 5,653 passing yards, 37 touchdown passes, 414 completions and six 300-yard passing games. He led the Big Sky in passing as a junior.

Wood, 29, was a three-year varsity letter winner in football at David Douglas High School in Portland and served as an assistant coach at David Douglas High School for three seasons.

Twice he earned all-conference honors in basketball. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public health education at Portland State in April 2003.

Aristotle Thompson
Running Backs (Recruiting Coordinator) • Second Year
Boise State '01
Recruiting Area: Los Angeles

Aristotle Thompson, assistant director of football operations at Boise State in 2007 and 2008, is coaching the running backs at Cal Poly and also serves as the Mustangs’ recruiting coordinator.

Thompson was a running back at Boise State, helping the Broncos to their first two Football Bowl Subdivision conference championships (Big West Conference) in 1999 and 2000. The Broncos won the Humanitarian Bowl both years as well with victories over Louisville in 1999 and Texas-El Paso in 2000.

A 2001 graduate of Boise State with a degree in social sciences and public affairs, Thompson was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Boise State in 2001 and an assistant football coach at Nampa (Idaho) High School in 2002, Eastern Oregon University in 2003 and 2004 (where he also worked as an admissions counselor) and Grant High School in Portland in 2005 and 2006. He also was the sprint coach for the Grant team that won the Oregon state championship in the 4-by-100 relay.

Thompson, 31, is a 1996 graduate of Portland’s Jesuit High School. He was named Gatorade Oregon High School Player of the Year in 1995 and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior in 1995 and second-team honors as a junior in 1994.

Thompson’s duties as assistant director of football operations at Boise State for two years included national recruting, team travel and camps. He currently is pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration at Idaho State.

Thompson and his wife, Sarah, have one daughter, Akyra, 12, and one son, Brock, born Aug. 27, 2009.

Steve Cox
Assistant Coach (Outside Linebackers) • First Year
San Jose State '68
Recruiting Area: Monterey/Santa Cruz/Peninsula

Steve Cox, wide receivers coach at Weber State the last two seasons, will coach the outside linebackers and nickel backs at Cal Poly this fall.

Cox, who coached Tim Toone, Weber State’s record-breaking All-American wide receiver, the last two seasons under head coach Ron McBride, brings a variety of coaching backgrounds to the Mustang staff. 

Prior to his stint at Weber State, Cox served one season as an assistant receivers coach at  Auburn University under Coach Tommy Tuberville. The Tigers were 8-4 in 2007 and won the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.

A native of Gardena, California, Cox graduated from Gardena High School where he was a standout wide receiver.  He played at Los Angeles Harbor JC for two seasons, where he was a two-year starter. Harbor went undefeated his sophomore season, winning the Western State Conference title. Cox was named to the JC All-America team.

He then transferred to San Jose State, where he played under Coach Harry Anderson and, during his two-year stint, set numerous Spartan receiving records. Cox graduated from San Jose State in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and later obtained a master’s in physical education from Saint Mary’s College in 1982.

Cox served as a graduate assistant coach for the Spartans in 1968, coaching the receivers, then became the assistant varsity football coach at Leland High School in San Jose for four seasons, where he coached the receivers, quarterbacks and defensive backs.  In 1972, he was elevated to the head coaching position, where he served for eight seasons, producing an overall record of 54-27-1. He teams won five conference titles and made two appearances in the CIF-Central Coast Section finals.

In 1980 Cox found his way to the collegiate level, serving as the receivers coach for six seasons at Santa Clara under head coach Pat Malley. In 1986 he was named head coach at West Valley Community College, where he stayed for one season, then returned to Santa Clara for three more years before taking the position of head coach at Cabrillo College in Aptos.

In 17 seasons at Cabrillo, Cox compiled a record of 95-86-3, winning five conference titles and making six bowl game appearances. Twice he was named region coach of the year.

After the 2006 season at Cabrillo, Cox left to accept the position at Auburn.

He and his wife, Marney, are parents of a daughter, Jenna Congdon, and a son, Jeff, who was a wide receiver at the University of Utah under McBride.

Jamar Cain
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) • Second Year
New Mexico State '02
Recruiting Area: Sacramento/East Bay

Jamar Cain, hired in March 2009 to coach the defensive line at Cal Poly, coached the defensive ends at Missouri State for three seasons (2006-08). Prior to 2006, he held a coaching position on the grid staff at Ohio University.

Cain is a native of Sacramento and a 2002 graduate of New Mexico State. He is also completing work on a master’s degree from Ohio University, where he served as a graduate assistant coach in 2005.

Cain played football for two seasons as a defensive lineman at Sacramento City College and was a first-team all-state selection for the Panthers. He spent his final two seasons at New Mexico State and was a second-team all-league defensive lineman in the Sun Belt Conference.

He spent two seasons as a high school coach and one year as an assistant coach at Sacramento City College and was an assistant coach during the 2005 season on the staff of head coach Frank Solich at Ohio University. Cain’s coaching responsibilities at Ohio were with the defensive ends and he had a number of additional duties within the Ohio program.

Cain participated in the National Football Leagie’s minority internship in the summer of 2008 with the Arizona Cardinals and in the summer of 2009 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also assisted the Arizona Cardinals during training camp in 2008.

Cain, 31, and his wife, DeCarla, have a son, Cosby, born in June 2007, and a daughter, Cali, born in September 2008.

Josh Brown
Assistant Coach (Inside Linebackers)/Special Teams Coordinator
First Year • San Jose State '03
Recruiting Area: Central Valley

Josh Brown, who played football at San Luis Obispo High School in the early 1990s, is in his first season as an assistant coach at Cal Poly, in charge of the inside linebackers. He also will serve as Special Teams Coordinator.

Josh Brown worked the 2009  season as the defensive quality control coach at the University of Kansas, working directly with the linebackers.

Brown is a 2003 San Jose State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He played football at San Luis Obispo High School in the early 1990s.

Brown coached the linebackers and was recruiting coordinator at Sacramento State for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The Hornets posted their first six-win season in 15 years in 2008 and had the No. 14-ranked rush defense in the Football Championship Subdivision in 2007. Both squads produced a pair of first-team All-Big Sky Conference linebackers as well as an honorable mention.

Brown was a defensive graduate assistant at Arizona State in 2006, an assistant coach at Foothill College from 2000-05, an assistant at Gavilan College for the 1999 season and was linebackers coach at San Luis Obispo High School in 1998, helping the Tigers to a 12-2 mark and CIF-Southern Section runner-up finish.

A 1994 graduate of San Luis Obispo High School, Brown played two seasons at Gavilan College and one year at Oklahoma. He earned his master's degree in curriculum and instruction, secondary education, at Arizona State in 2007.

Brown and his wife, Kasey, have one son, Ty. Kasey’s father is Mike Church, a former standout defensive back for the Mustangs who also twice served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly.

Matt Crivello
Offensive Assistant • Fifth Year • Utah State '05

Matt Crivello, a quarterback at San Luis Obispo High School in the late 1990s and a son of former Mustang assistant coach John Crivello, will serve as an assistant coach with the offensive line at Cal Poly this fall.  

Crivello, 28, who coached on the defensive side in 2006 and worked with the running backs in 2007 and 2008, is a 1999 San Luis Obispo High School graduate who went on to play for two seasons at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz County, earning scholar/athlete and offensive MVP awards.  

Crivello then played at Utah State from 2003-05, earning the Joe E. Whitesides Scholar Award three times and Academic All-Sun Belt Conference honors twice. He graduated from Utah State in May 2005 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and exercise science and completed his master’s degree in kinesiology at Cal Poly last spring. 

In 2005 Crivello was quarterback coach and passing game coordinator at Cabrillo College. With Cal Poly's running backs in 2007 and 2008, he was part of a Mustang offense that was ranked in the top 10 nationally in numerous categories.

Crivello is a member of the American Football Coaches Association as well as the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

Pat Johnston
Defensive Assistant • Third Year • Cal Poly '09

Pat Johnston, who has two brothers currently playing on the Cal Poly football team, is serving his third year as a defensive assistant coach at Cal Poly, working with the secondary as well as special teams.

Johnston was a backup quarterback for the Mustangs from 2005-07 after a redshirt year, primarily calling the signals for the scout team.

At Carmel High School, Johnston completed 147 of 264 passes for 2,022 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior under head coach Craig Johnston, a former Cal Poly quarterback and Pat's father. Pat earned second-team small schools all-state honors and was named Mission Trail Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.

Johnston also was honored on the All-Monterey County first team as selected by the Monterey County Herald. He completed 23 of 45 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns in one game against Gonzales and led Carmel to a 5-4 overall record and 4-2 for a second-place tie in league play. Johnston played in the Salinas Jaycees All-Star Football Game.

In his three-year prep career, Johnston threw for 5,020 yards, a league record until his brother Ken surpassed the mark, and passed for 51 touchdowns. Pat also was an outfielder on Carmel's baseball team which won its ninth straight Mission Trail Athletic League title in 2004. He was a first-team all-MTAL outfielder.

Johnston was named to Carmel High's Honor Roll every quarter. He was born Dec. 11, 1985, in San Luis Obispo and graduated from Cal Poly in June 2009 with a bachelor's degree in history. He plans to pursue a master's degree in education.

Besides Ken, another brother, Phil, also is a member of the Mustang football team as a linebacker.

Brandon "Cherokee" Valeria
Director of Football Operations • First Year • Central Washington '99

After serving the last three seasons as cornerbacks coach at Idaho State, Brandon “Cherokee” Valeria is entering his first season with Cal Poly as the director of football operations. 

Prior to his coaching stint at Idaho State, where he coached D.J. Clark of the Carolina Panthers, Valeria spent two seasons at Central Washington, coaching the cornerbacks.

Valeria had a player rank among the nation’s top 30 in interceptions in four of the last five years, dating back to his time at Central Washington. In 2005, Central won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, going 8-2 overall and undefeated in league play. Central’s defense was ranked 11th nationally, picking up 33 takeaways.  Both of Valeria’s corners earned First Team All-GNAC honors.

Valeria has also coached in minor league professional football, in the high school ranks, and with the Everett Hawks of the National Indoor Football League.  All of his stops have turned up success stories.  He was named the 2004 Northwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year by Minor League Football News after helping the West Sound Saints to the NWFL title game. 

Valeria played at Central Washington for four years, from 1993-97, where he helped lead the Wildcats to the 1995 NAIA National Championship, eventually being inducted in 2006 into the Central Washington Hall of Fame. He played receiver at Central, and graduated in 1999 with a degree in biology. 

The 34-year old Valeria, born June 13, 1975, has a son, Ayosgi Uwasa (which means “Last Warrior” in Cherokee), and a daughter, T’Kia Li (which means “Message from God”).  He originally hails from Hilo, Hawaii.

Bobby Best
Volunteer Assistant Coach • First Year • Cal Poly

Bobby Best, an offensive lineman as a freshman and a defensive lineman as a sophomore and junior, will assist the coaching staff this fall.

After a redshirt year in 2006, Best played in eight games in 2007, including one start (Northern Colo-rado), at quick-side tackle on the offensive line. He also competed in track and field with a best mark of 44-11 in the shot put.

As a sophomore in 2008, Best was slowed by injury, playing in just the Idaho State and UC Davis games on the defensive line. He recorded one solo tackle, a sack for 11 yards, against Idaho State.

In his junior season (2009), Best started six games, including one start (North Dakota), at defensive end and recorded seven tackles and one quarterback hurry. He notched three tackles in the Dixie State game. Best also competed in track and field, posting personal bests of 50-9 1/4 in the shot put and 148-0 in the discus. He placed eighth in the shot put at the Big West Conference finals.

Best was a two-time All-CIF-Central Coast Section first-team selection and notched 68 tackles in his senior season under Darren Yafai at Gilroy High School. Among his tackles were 11 sacks, including a school-record five sacks against Salinas. Best, an Honor Roll student, was a three-time All-Tri-County Athletic League selection and was named TCAL Offensive Lineman of the Year as well as team MVP in 2005. In track and field, Best qualifying for the state meet twice in the discus and was a three-time league discus champ and twice in the shot put.

Best majors in kinesiology.

Jason Cox
Volunteer Assistant Coach • First Year • Cal Poly

Jason Cox, who missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing offseason knee surgery, will assist the coaching staff on the offensive line this fall.

As a sophomore in 2008, Cox started the first six games at center before injuring his knee in the Southern Utah contest. He came back to play in the playoff game against Weber State and anchored an offensive line that gave up just nine sacks in 11 games and helped the offense to No. 1 in the nation in scoring offense and total offense, No. 3 in rushing offense and No. 17 in time of possession.

As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Cox started the final eight games, three at center and five at strong-side tackle, and earned second-team All-Great West honors. He played on an offensive line that surrendered just 15 sacks in 11 games and helped the offense finish No. 2 in the nation in total offense (487.09), No. 5 in rushing offense (272.18) and No. 6 in scoring (39.27).

A 2006 graduate of Bullard High School, Cox led the Knights to a 10-3 record and their second straight County Metro Athletic Conference title. He earned All-CMAC first-team honors as a center in both 2004 and 2005 and was CMAC Lineman of the year in 2005. Cox also was a linebacker on defense, lettered twice in track and field and was an Honor Roll student.

Cox is a civil engineering major at Cal Poly.

David Wood
Strength and Conditioning Coach • Second Year • Cal Poly '05

David Wood was named head strength and conditioning coach at Cal Poly in July 2009. An assistant strength and conditioning coach for seven months prior to his promotion, Wood’s primary focus is the implementation of strength, speed, agility and conditioning programs for all 20 intercollegiate sports.

Prior to rejoining the Cal Poly family, Wood was at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant while working on his master’s. While at UAB, his primary responsibilities were overseeing the strength and conditioning program for the men’s and women’s tennis teams. He also worked with the development and implementation of programs for football, softball, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.  

Wood spent a year with Velocity Sports Performance, training professional and collegiate athletes with a direct focus on baseball, soccer, football, volleyball and basketball. During his time with the private company, he utilized the Dart Fish computer analysis software to teach Olympic and power lifts, acceleration, deceleration, maximum velocity and multi-direction movement mechanics.

He also spent time with UCLA as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach working with football, men’s water polo, women’s soccer and both men’s and women’s volleyball, and was an intern at Cal Poly under former Mustang strength and conditioning coach Chris Holder in 2005.

Wood is “Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified” through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. He earned his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly in kinesiology in 2005 and added his master’s in exercise physiology from Alabama, Birmingham, in 2009.

Steve Kracher
Equipment Manager • Fourth Year • Montana State ‘77

Steve Kracher begins his fourth year as Cal Poly’s athletics equipment manager.

Kracher, a certified athletic equipment manager and member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, coached football for 30 years, including a two-year stint at Cal Poly from 1985-86 as a running backs and linebackers assistant.

Kracher currently is an assistant coach at Mission Prep in San Luis Obispo and also was an assistant coach at Nipomo, San Luis Obispo and Atascadero high schools as well as in Montana, Hawai’i and Wyoming.

A 1977 graduate of Montana State, Kracher earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and history and his master’s degree two years later in physical education and school administration. As a player at Montana State, Kracher was an All-Big Sky Conference selection as a running back in 1974 and 1975 and was a Kodak and United Press International All-American in 1975.

Kracher, 56, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 11th round in 1976 and was inducted into the Montana State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. He was a high school teacher for 22 years.