Both Frank Mazzotta of La Habra (right) and Mark Carson of Rio Hondo Prep are part of the San Gabriel Valley region of Southern California, but Mazzotta also is from a school just inside the Orange County line. Photos: Instagram.com & Mark Tennis.
La Habra’s Frank Mazzotta captured his eighth CIFSS title to tie some legends on an Orange County all-time list and now has been named the state medium schools honoree. For small schools, Rio Hondo Prep’s Mark Carson gets the nod for winning three straight CIFSS titles despite the team having to play in higher and higher divisions.
Congratulations to the following two California coaches for joining Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year Tony Franks as additional honorees for accomplishments by their teams during the 2025 football season. To read more about Coach Franks, CLICK HERE.
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Medium Schools
State Coach of the Year
Frank Mazzotta (La Habra)
Before the 2025 season, the city of La Habra honored Mazzotta as a Centennial Legends & Legacies recipient for the impact he has made to that community, which celebrated its 100th year during the 2025 calendar year. His resume in 28 seasons at the school already was impressive but will have to be updated again after the season.
La Habra head coach Frank Mazzotta is part of a great family of football coaches. Photo: cifss / Instagram.com.
La Habra won its eighth CIF Southern Section title with a victory in the D4 title game over San Jacinto. The Highlanders (11-4) then lost in the CIF SoCal D2-AA regional final to Bakersfield Christian in a close 24-21 contest. Regardless, Mazzotta and team did enough and his extraordinary career accomplishments is enough for him to be the 2025 Medium Schools State Coach of the Year.
In winning his eighth CIFSS title, Mazzotta also became one of just three in Orange County history to win eight section titles. The two he joined on the list are in the 300-win club and have been State Coach of the Year — Bob Johnson of El Toro/Mission Viejo and Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei. Mazzotta also has an eight-game winning streak in CIFSS title games since La Habra lost the first time he took a team to a final back in 2000. In addition to this season, the other CIFSS crowns were won with four in a row from 2007 to 2010 and then there was a win in the 2015 Southeast Division final vs San Clemente. The other two titles were won consecutively in 2002 and 2003.
Mazzotta is the first-ever state coach of the year from La Habra. It hasn’t been that long, though, since there was a medium schools winner from Orange County. Just three years ago, Jeff Bailey of Yorba Linda gained the nod. The previous honoree before that was Scott Meyer of Corona del Mar in 2013, which was the year that the Sea Kings became the first team in state history (by a few hours) to finish with a 16-0 record and CIF state title.
Football coaching also has been in Frank’s blood since he was born. He is the son of legendary Cerritos College head coach Frank Mazzotta Sr. His dad retired after the 2017 season with a record of 255-160-6 with seven conference championships in a career at the junior college that spanned 40 years (since 1978). Frank Jr. and younger brother Casey both played for their dad at Cerritos College and both have become coaches. Casey is currently the head coach at Mt. San Antonio Community College.
Recent Cal-Hi Sports Medium Schools
State Coaches of the Year
2024 – Chris Bean (Twelve Bridges, Lincoln); 2023 – Floyd Burnsed (Acalanes, Lafayette); 2022 – Jeff Bailey (Yorba Linda); 2021 – Marlon Gardinera (San Diego Scripps Ranch); 2020 – Mazi Moayad (Marin Catholic, Kentfield)*; 2019 – Mike Moon (Pacifica, Oxnard); 2018 – Mark Cooley (Pleasant Valley, Chico); 2017 – Josh Henderson (Grace Brethren, Simi Valley); 2016 – Trent Merzon (Oakdale); 2015 – Mike Moschetti (La Mirada); 2014 – Kevin Macy (Campolindo, Moraga); 2013 – Scott Meyer (Corona del Mar, Newport Beach); 2012 – Rick Jackson (Madison, San Diego); 2011 – Rick Prinz (Paradise); 2010 – Paul Cronin (Cardinal Newman, Santa Rosa); 2009 – Sean Doyle (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego); 2008 – Lou Farrar (Charter Oak, Covina); 2007 – Ray Fenton (Cypress); 2006 – Eric Reis (Manteca); 2005 – Robin Luken (Lompoc); 2004 – Rob Gilster (Valley Center); 2003 – Tony Martello (Colfax); 2002 – Tom St. Jacques (Lassen, Susanville).
*Games played in spring 2021 due to pandemic. Burnsed & Gardinera also were the overall State Coaches of Year.
Small Schools State Coach of the Year
Mark Carson (Rio Hondo Prep, Arcadia)
Although the Kares were not able to get a win in the CIF D2-A state final, coming up short in a loss to Sonora, Carson has had the additional accomplishment of winning three straight CIF Southern Section titles in different divisions with each move up more difficult than the previous one.
Rio Hondo Prep’s Mark Carson has been at the school for 23 years and completed his ninth season as head coach. Photo: 210prepsports.com.
Carson, who already has been named San Gabriel Valley Tribune Coach of the Year (regardless of school size), would have been a strong contender for overall State Coach of the Year honors if the team had done better in the state final. Sonora’s Kirk Clifton was considered for this honor as well, but only completed his second season. Carson has been Rio Hondo’s head coach since 2015.
It’s the success that the Kares have had in the CIFSS playoffs the last three seasons that can be hard to explain. First, the small private school only averages around 100 to 120 students in enrollment and the count of boys has been reported as low as 71. In the era of competitive equity based playoff divisions, small schools with enrollments like that with teams that win a lot of games frequently get paired with much larger schools. In 2023, Carson’s team was in the D9 bracket and in the title game topped Santa Monica High, 29-27, which has more than 2,600 students. Last season, the Kares were moved up to D7 and in the title game defeated Warren of Downey, 43-16, which has more than 3,500 students. That team later lost to Vanden of Fairfield in overtime in the CIF D3-AA state final. This year, Rio Hondo moved to D5 and kept on winning, this time with a title game win vs Redondo of Redondo Beach, which has nearly 3,000 students.
Sonora isn’t a large school like all those others, but is much bigger than Rio Hondo Prep with approximately 900 students.
A graduate of the small school himself, Carson became Rio Hondo Prep’s defensive coordinator in 2004 and moved up to head coach when previous head coach Ken Drain retired after the 2014 season.
The final 15-1 record of this year’s team also raised Carson’s overall record since his first season in 2015 to 86-17. His previous honors also include being the CIF Southern Section Coach of the Year for the 2023 season by SB Live/Sports Illustrated.
The most recent small schools honoree from the CIFSS was David Griffiths from Big Bear (Big Bear Lake) in 2017. Rio Hondo Prep itself also has a former winner. In 1998, Randall Johnson led the Kares to an 11-1 record and was named for the honor.
Recent Cal-Hi Sports Small Schools
State Coaches of the Year
2024 – Golden Anderson (Carmel); 2023 – Jeromy Blackwell (Strathmore); 2022 – Nick Velazquez (Orland); 2021 – Rick Davis (Jackson Argonaut); 2020 – Ryan Reynolds (Sutter)*; 2019 – Chris Musseman (Ripon); 2018 – Michael Peters (McClymonds, Oakland); 2017 – David Griffiths (Big Bear, Big Bear Lake); 2016 – Jim Kunau (Rancho Christian, Temecula); 2015 – Tom Crawford (Bishop Diego, Santa Barbara); 2014 – Roger Canepa (Central Catholic, Modesto); 2013 – Matt Oliver (Christian, El Cajon); 2012 – Pete Lavorato (Sacred Heart Prep, Atherton); 2011 – Jon Ellinghouse (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth); 2010 – Mark Louriero (Escalon); 2009 – Jack Moyer (Fort Bragg); 2008 – Frank Marques (Hilmar); 2007 – Kim Jorgensen (Ferndale); 2006 – Travis Brackett (Novato); 2005 – Matt Hunsaker (Central Valley, Shasta Lake); 2004 – Rich Cotruvo (Justin-Siena, Napa); 2003 – Mike Glines (Central Catholic, Modesto); 2002 – Coley Candaele (Carpinteria).
*Games played in spring 2021 due to pandemic.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
