Michael joined the University of La Verne football program in May 2025, bringing with him over 30 years of coaching experience across the high school, NCAA Division III, and Division II levels. His collegiate coaching resume includes a successful tenure at Whittier College from 1995 to 1999, where he coached back-to-back SCIAC Offensive Players of the Year at quarterback in 1997 and 1998, and helped the program secure two SCIAC championships. Michael has served in both coordinator and position coach roles, and during his five seasons as a high school offensive coordinator, his teams reached the CIF playoffs four times and won two CIF titles. Under his guidance, every high school quarterback he coached earned CIF honors, with three advancing to major collegiate programs.
Michael also had two impactful coaching stints at Chapman University (2006–2010 and 2014–2024), where he coached the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year quarterbacks in 2014 and 2017, and four All-League receivers during his time as wide receivers coach. Since Chapman became eligible for SCIAC competition in 2012, he played a key role in guiding the Panthers to four SCIAC championships—in 2014, 2017, 2021, and 2023.
As a former standout athlete, Michael’s accolades include being named to the Pizza Hut College All-American Team and earning SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a quarterback for Whittier College in 1985 and 1986. He was inducted into the Whittier College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and was previously awarded Player of the Year, Team Captain, and Male Athlete of the Year during his time as a Poet. A decorated high school athlete as well, he was a High School All-American quarterback at Van Nuys High School and the Offensive Player of the Game in the 1980 Shriner All-Star Game.
Beyond the field, Michael is a certified professional and personal life coach, delivering motivational and leadership presentations to various probation departments and school communities throughout Southern California. His coaching philosophy is rooted in Psalm 78:72 — “He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” His career reflects a passion not just for football, but for mentoring student-athletes to excel in life as well.
