Former Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson among 13 announced to 39th CIF-Southern Section Hall of Fame class

Legendary Mater Dei football coach and longtime commissioner, both recently retired, head an impressive class.

Legendary Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson and recently retired commissioner Rob Wigod are among the 39th Class for the CIF Southern Section's Hall of Fame along with distinguished service members, it was announced a short time ago. 

Rollinson won eight section championship along with four state and five mythical national championships in his 34 years as head coach. His final record was 341-87-2. 

His induction is announced the same day his Monarchs play St. John Bosco in a nationally-recognized game that he was part of just last season. Rollinson announced last November that 2022 would be his final season. 

After beating Bosco 17-7 in the regular season, the Braves spoiled his final season with a 24-22 victory in the Southern Section Division I final. 

Bruce Rollinson (right) won eight section and four state championships, along with five mythical crowns in 34 seasons at Mater Dei. 

The 13 inductees will be honored at a luncheon hosted at The Grand Conference Center in Long Beach on Wednesday, October 18 starting at 11:30 a.m.

Additionally, 14 outstanding individuals will be honored with a CIF Southern Section Distinguished Service Award for years of dedicated contributions toward the student-athletes of the CIF-SS.

Among those, Wigod retired in August after serving 23 years as a Southern Section commissioner, the last 12 as its head commissioner. 

“We are excited to honor and recognize our 2023 CIF Southern Section Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Award winners,” said current CIF-SS Commissioner of Athletics Mike West, who replaced Wigod. “This illustrious group of individuals represents true excellence for their dedication to education-based athletics and their accomplishments in service to our member schools and to our organization,” added West. “We are very proud to pay tribute to them and look forward to a great celebration.”

Rest of press release

39th Southern Section Hall of Fame Class

Peter Ackermann

- 50 years coaching youth softball in the Conejo Valley

- Oaks Christian High School – Head Softball Coach – 23 years

- 651-148-1 overall record

- 3 CIF Southern Section Championships

- 2022 CIF State Championships

- 46 game win streak

- 2004 California Coaches Association Coach of the Year

- 2-time National Christian School Athletic Association Coach of the Year

Jim Brumm

- 40 years coaching aquatics

- Coached at Huntington Beach and Foothill High Schools

- Coached 78 All-Americans, 3 Olympians, 9 CIF-SS Players of the Year

- 7 CIF-SS boy’s water polo championships

- 3 CIF-SS boy’s swimming championships

- 7-time CIF-SS Boy’s water polo Coach of the Year

- Over 600 wins as boy’s water polo coach

Rocky Ciarelli

- 37 years coaching boys’ and girls’ volleyball

- Coached at Edison; Huntington Beach; and Newport Harbor High Schools

- 436-180 overall boy’s record; 194-99 Girl’s record

- 15 boys league championships; 3 girls league titles

- 3 boy’s CIF-SS Championships; 1 girl’s CIF-SS Championship

- 1 Boy’s CIF State Southern California Regional Championship; 1 Girl’s CIF State Championship

- Coached 2 Girl’s CIF-SS and CIF State Players of the Year

- Coached 48 Boy’s All-CIF-SS Volleyball Players

- Coached 17 Girl’s All-CIF-SS Volleyball Players

Tony Ciarelli

- 38 years coaching track and field

- Coached at Edison; Huntington Beach; and Newport Harbor High Schools

- Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame; Arcadia Relays Hall of Fame

- California Coaches Association Coach of the Year

- Coached six state champions; 18 CIF-SS champions; 13 CIF-SS Masters Champions; 31 CIF-SS/Masters

Champions; 6 national champions.

Dan Glenn

- 35 years coaching boy’s and girls’ volleyball

- Coached at University, Edison, and Newport Harbor High Schools

At Newport Harbor

- 7 Girls CIF Southern Section Champions: 1987 (5-A), 1994 (DI), 1997 (IAA), 1998 (IAA), 1999 (IAA),

2002 (IIAA), 2009 (1AA)

- 5 Girls CIF State Champions: 1992 (DIII), 1994 (DI), 1998 (DI), 1999 (DI), 2009 (DI)

- 7 Girls CIF-SS Players of the Year

- 17 league titles

- 3 Boys CIF Southern Section Champions: 1987 (4-A), 1999 (I), 2002 (IIAA)

- 2 Boy’s CIF-SS Players of the Year

- Overall record as girl’s head coach - 683-299

- Overall record as boy’s head coach - 495-176

- 2 league titles at Edison High School

Jeff Gordon

- Coached soccer for 36 years

- Coached soccer for 32 years at Sunny Hills High School

- 602 wins

- 19 Freeway League Championships

- 3 CIF-SS Championships

- 4-time CIF SS Coach of the Year: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2019;

- National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year: 2007

- Orange County Coach of the Year: 2013

- California State Coach of the Year: 2014

Cindy Gurney

- Coached girls’ volleyball for 36 years all at Alta Loma

- 611-205 overall record

- 20 league championships

- 32 CIF-SS playoff appearances

- 1 CIF-SS title

- Inland Valley Coach of the year twice

Donna Lee

- Started and coached the Valencia/Valencia softball program for 24 years

- Coached for 3 years at alma mater, Taft/Woodland Hills winning a league title

- 46-12 at Taft

- 14 league titles

- 10 consecutive league titles (2001-2010)

- 3-time Daily News Coach of the Year (1993, 2007, 2008)

- Los Angeles Times Coach of the Year (2001)

- Fastpitch Coaches Association National High School Coach of the Year (2007)

- 2-time CIF-SS champion

- USA Today and Cal Hi Sports National Champions (2007)

- Cal-Hi Sports National Champions

- 529-194-5 overall record

Gary Meek

- Head Football coach Esperanza High School for 17 years (1986-2003)

- 3 CIF-SS Football Championship 1979, 1990, 1992

- Inducted into Santa Ana College Hall of Fame 2020

- 144-50 losses-5 ties overall record

- 2-time CIF-SS Coach of the Year (1990, 1992)

Bruce Rollinson

- Head Football coach at Mater Dei High School for 34 years

- 8 CIF-SS championships

- 4 CIF State Championships

- 5 National Championships

- 341-87-2 overall record

Bill Seckington

- 26 seasons coaching Huntington Beach High School golf.

- 404 wins and 58 losses

- 19 Sunset League titles

- 3 CIF Regional Championships

- 1 CIF Finals Runner Up

- 1 CIF Southern Section Individual Champion

- 52 consecutive Sunset League victories

- Founding member for the Orange County North/South Golf tournament

- 2 times Orange County Golf Coach of the Year

Richard Wiard

- Coached at Bishop Amat High School/Charter Oak High School

- 4-time CIF-SS Coach of the Year 1999, 2003, 2005, 2013

- 1 CIF State Coach of the Year (2005)

- 6-time San Gabriel Valley Coach of Year

- 5-time CIF-SS Champion

- 2-time CIF State Champion

Ron Wilson

- Camarillo High School Head Wrestling Coach for 40 years

- Assistant Coach on the World and National Team

- Dual Meet Coaching Record 475-199-2

- 11 League Titles

- 1 CIF-SS Title in 2015

- National Wrestling Hall of Fame

- Ventura County Sports Hall of Famer 2016

- Los Angeles Daily News Coach of the Year

- Tri-County wrestling Coach of the Year

- 2-time Pacific View League Coach of the Year

- Coastal Canyon League Coach of the year 2015

- Northern Division Team CIF-SS Champions 2015

DISTINGUISHED AWARDEES - 2023

Carmel Brand

Athletic Director, Pacific High School 33 years at Pacific High School, 20 years as AD at,

-CSADA Athletic Director of the Year in 2019

-CBAADA AD of the Year in 2014

-CIF Southern Section AD of the Year in 2015.

-CBAADA Hall of Fame Inductee in 2024

-Co-hosted the San Bernardino Kiwanis tournament numerous times,

-Started Women in Sport program for high school female athletes in 2011

-Organized and operated every event the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association has put on since 2008 to include the Hall of Fame Luncheons, Championship Coaches Breakfast, Athlete of the Year Breakfast, and the Women in Sports Conference.

Chris Calderwood

Athletic Director, Rancho Mirage HS

Executive Committee Member – Treasurer

-From 1986-1992, Chris taught math and computers and coached football and tennis at Carpinteria High School.

-In 1992, Chris moved to Palm Springs High School where he taught math and coached football.

-They were the Desert Valley League Champions in 1995 and 1996 and he was the Desert Valley Coach of the Year in 1995.

-Chris became the Palm Springs High School athletic director in 1995 and in 1998 added the role of vice principal to his duties.

-He most recently served as Vice Principal and Athletic Director at the newly opened Rancho Mirage High School.

-He has served as the Desert Valley League Representative to CIF Council and the Desert Valley League Representative to the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Director's Association and served as President of the CBAADA from 2009-2011.

-Chris served as a member of the Southern Section Athletic Administrator Advisory Committee, Technology Advisory Committee, Nominating Committee and Playoff Grouping Appeals Panel.

-And finally, Chris serves as a member of the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee.

Anita Fopma

Program Coordinator, CIF Southern Section

-Anita grew up in Bellflower and attended Mayfair High School.

-She began working in the CIF Southern Section office on November 17, 1997, as the assistant to the Sports Information Coordinator, Thom Simmons, hired just 7 days before her.

-She served in that role for 26 years and retired September 1, 2023.

-While in the office Anita handled All-CIF-SS certificates, the CIF-SS Quarterly Bulletins, CIF-SS media relations, press releases, championship football luncheon and tremendous amount more.

Anita Fopma / Photo: Heston Quan

Sandra Gahring

Athletic Director, Azusa High School

-28 years as an Athletic Director from 1991 to 2019 at Azusa High School.

-She served on numerous committees and support organizations that benefited the student athletes of Azusa and the Mt. Sac area as well."

-Her CIF involvement included participation and leadership on the Athletic Advisory committee, Ethics in Sport committee, Softball advisory committee, Athletic Trainers exploratory committee, CIF executive committee, State CIF Federated Council, State CIF Athletic Directors advisory committee, State CIF Screening committee.

-CAPHERD member, Women in sports rep 2 years.

-Board member of the Foothill Citrus Athletic Directors Association as well as the California State Athletic Directors Association.

-She was actively involved in the planning of conferences awards programs and special recognition programs throughout her 28 years as an Athletic Director.

-Provided Athletic Training services during the 1984 Olympics.

Don Holbrook

Support Personnel (school staff, trainer, equipment manager, school administrative assistant) Los Altos HS (retired math teacher/coach)

-Coached Water Polo and Swimming at Los Altos High School

-High School and college water polo official

-Assigner for Foothill-Citrus area water polo and swimming

-Assigner for Community College Water Polo Officials in Southern Ca

-Don has a knack not only for developing athletes but also for training water polo officials, and his impact in that area, while being difficult to measure precisely, has been extensive.

-Aquatic sports officiating is a much-improved environment, at both the high school and collegiate levels, as the result of Don's wise mentoring of and on-going influence upon those officials.

-Don became a member of the CIFSS swimming/diving advisory committee and was given extensive responsibility for logistics at the CIFSS swimming championships.

-He helped create and implement more efficient processes and methods for athlete/coach check-in at those meets.

-Don has had long-term and continuing involvement with the CIFSS water polo championships for both boys and girls by supervising officials, and helping staff and supervise the events

Ryan Katsuyama

Ryan is currently coaching swimming at Poly.

-Ryan Katsuyama has handled the entries for CIF Southern Section Swimming and Diving for the past 20 plus years

-Served the CIFSS Advisory Committee for more than 20 years.

-Ryan attends every session of every division handling the management of thousands of individual swimmers and over the years, hundreds of thousands of entries.

-Ryan coordinates the entries into the state swimming and diving meet and serves the State CIF Swimming and Diving Advisory Committee. He has recently committed to serve as ""Meet Manager"" for the four divisions of CIFSS Ford Swimming and Diving Championships

Carlton Ed Kearby

Fontana Unified School District (Kaiser HS, Summit HS, Fontana HS)

-Ed was a long time Basketball coach and teacher in the Inland Empire, coaching at San Gorgonio,Fontana, and San Bernardino Valley College

-He went into administration in Fontana, serving as an Athletic Director at Kaiser HS and Summit HS, Assistant Principal at Kaiser HS, and Director of Athletics and PE for the Fontana Unified School District.

-He served as the President of the Sunkist League for 8 years and was the President of the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Director's Association.

-He has been named the Citrus Belt Area Athletic Director's Association Athletic Director of the Year.

-Served on both the CIFSS Basketball Advisory Committee and on the CIFSS Executive Committee.

-He was instrumental in creating and implementing a model for re-leaguing in the Citrus Belt Area that is efficient and fair and is still in use today.

-He served as the Compliance Officer for the new Arrowhead Athletic Conference through its infancy and as it has developed.

John Montrella

Contest Official

- Retired from Millikan HS (math teacher, coach) SoCal Aquatics Federation (SCAF) 

- Contest official for HS/college swimming; meet management for CIFSS swim championships; officials' supervisor for California Community Colleges

-John has served as high school coach and official for water polo and swimming starting in the late 1960s.

-His involvement with both Southern California Aquatics Federation (officials'' association) and CIFSS has been prolonged and extensive.

-It is difficult to recall any time in the past 50 years when John has not been involved as an official or event manager in both swimming and water polo for CIFSS.

-In addition, of course, he has also officiated at the collegiate level in both sports for many years, continuing to do so at the Div. 1 level for NCAA as well as for the CCCAA, where he currently serves as meet manager for the annual State championships in swimming/diving.

-He has mentored and instructed numerous currently serving officials for both sports

Joyce Phelps

Contest Official Southern California Aquatic Federation (SCAF) for Swimming/Diving and Water Polo Officials

- Joyce is active in both Swimming and Diving athletics and has retired as a Water Polo Official

-Swim Official continuously since 1970.

-Served on the CIF-SS Swim/Dive advisory committee since 1980's.

-She assisted with assigning swim officials, developing swimming and diving training material and videos for the Southern Section office, and has volunteered for management positions for numerous CIF-SS championship events in both swimming and diving and Water Polo

-Assisted Kristine Palle with writing the NFHS National swim official’s test.

-Represented the Southern Section while officiating the California State Swim Championships.

-She has been serving as the supervisor for the CIF-SS Diving Championships for numerous years and has been asked to supervise the CIF State diving championships.

-Joyce has twice been the president of Southern California Aquatics Federation and has been the president of the Orange County swim starters association three times.

-She has served continuously on the Board of Directors of the OC swim officials association for 15 years and currently serves as the past president.

-Joyce has been the OC swim officials' assigners’ multiple times.

-She has modified the SCAF Swim Constitution and By-Laws numerous times as the changes in rules have occurred.

-Joyce started officiating water polo to help when the shortage of officials became critical.

-She was asked to assist at the CIF-SS water polo semi-finals and finals during the shortage period.

Bill Prichard

Sports Media, Newport Harbor HS

-Bill Prichard wrote the entire CIF history of the Sport of Water polo which was published in .

-This book was a labor of love after being mentored by one of the greatest high school water polo coaches in the State of California – Mr. Bill Barnett.

-“The History of CIF/SS Water Polo 1912-2020" is an in-depth documentary complete with Divisional breakdown as the sport expanded from the time of WWI to its present status.

-The purpose of the book was to function as a standalone book on high school Water Polo in Southern California"" - Bill Prichard"

Jack Recla

Athletic Director

-Royal Oak High School: 1972 -1985 taught Physical Education, Business math, Pre- Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Oceanography, Earth Science, Biology, Advanced Biology.

-Head Coach Royal Oak High School, Cross County/Track 1976-1982 and then again during long stretch. 

-In 1985 Jack started both the Cross Country and Track and field teams when Trabuco Hills High School opened until 2010.

-Helped bring the first All-Weather Track to Trabuco Hills High School in 1991.

-Started the Trabuco Hills Track and Field Invitational in 1992. As Meet Director from 1992 – 2010 approximately 35,000 athletes from all over the United States have participated in the meet.

-He was the Girls Athletic Director from 1998 until 2008 with he became both the Boys and Girls Athletic Director serving in that role until 2011 when he retired.

-CIF Division 1 Track and Field Meet Manager and the CIF Masters Meet Manager from 1995 – 2019

Rob Wigod

Commissioner, CIF Southern Section

-Rob Wigod grew up in Long Beach, California and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.

-After high school, Rob matriculated to California State University, Long Beach graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History.

-While at CSULB, Rob began coaching football at Wilson High School and realized he wanted to become an educator.

-In 1983, he earned his Secondary Schools Teaching Credential and began teaching in the Long Beach Unified School District, first at Herbert Hoover Middle School for one year and then Lakewood Senior High School for 14 years.

-At Lakewood High School, Rob taught U.S. Government, U.S. History and Criminal/Civil Law, while also coaching Varsity Football, Varsity Baseball and serving as Boys Athletic Director.

-After 15 years in the Long Beach Unified School District, Rob accepted the position of Head Baseball Coach and Boys Athletic Director at Los Alamitos High School, where he also taught U.S. Government.

-In his two years there, the Griffins were Sunset League Baseball Champions both years and advanced to the C.I.F. Southern Section Baseball Playoffs, reaching the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

-Rob was selected as Orange County Baseball Coach of the Year by the Orange County Register and the L.A. Times, Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Coach of the Year and Sunset League Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

-In August 2000, Rob became an Assistant Commissioner for the C.I.F. Southern Section, the organization that oversees all the high school sports programs for over 575 public and private high schools throughout Southern California.

-Rob served as an Assistant Commissioner for 11 years and his primary responsibilities were managing football, wrestling and baseball, while also working with student eligibility and sports officials.

-On August 2, 2011, Rob became the Commissioner of Athletics for the C.I.F. Southern Section.

Rob Wigod / Courtesy photo: CIF Southern Section

Jeff Williams

Athletic Director, Palmdale, Golden League Rep; CIF SS Executive Committee; CIF SS Football advisory Committee; CIF State Football Advisory Committee

-Palmdale High School Head Football Coach for 25 years,

-CIF football advisory committee over 10 years.

-Golden League Secretary over 10 years, Athletic Director over 15 years, Golden League Rep; CIF SS Executive Committee; CIF SS Football advisory Committee; CIF " Golden League Rep; CIF SS Executive Committee; CIF SS Football advisory Committee; CIF State Football Advisory Committee

-He became the Head Football Coach at Palmdale High School in 1990, he served as the Head Coach until his retirement from coaching in 2017.

-Under his tutelage, Palmdale High School experienced much success, earning 13 Golden League Titles, 26 CIF playoff appearances, and two CIF Championship appearances.

-As the Head Track Coach at Palmdale, he earned 7 Golden League Championships and many CIF State Track Meet appearances.

-Jeff Took over the Athletic Director Position at Palmdale High School in 2007.

-Jeff serves as a Mojave Desert Officials Association Track Starter

-Jeff has served on the CIF State Football Advisory Committee, CIF Southern Section Football Advisory Committee, and served on the CIF Southern Section Executive Committee from 2018 – 2023.

Rainer Wulf

Assistant Commissioner, CIF Southern Section

-Rainer Wulf graduated from Bishop Amat High School in 1978. He was a member of the basketball team where he received the Pat Haden Scholar-Athlete Award during his senior year.

-After a 2-year stint at Citrus Community College in Azusa, Ca., Rainer moved on to U.C. Irvine where he was a member of the Men's Basketball team and graduated in 1982.

-Following graduation, he was a member of the Anteater basketball staff as an assistant coach.

-He played professional basketball in Sydney, Australia and returned in 1985 to begin his teaching and coaching career at University High School in Irvine.

-In 1987 Rainer was hired as Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Trabuco Hills High School. In his tenure at Trabuco Hills, the Runnin' Mustangs won 2 CIF-SS Championships and were California State Finalists in 1989.

-Twice he was named CIF-SS Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 2011.

-Rainer has earned his Master of Arts Degree in Education from Azusa-Pacific University and in 1998 was hired as an Athletic Director at Trabuco Hills.

-In 2008 he was named the CIF-SS Athletic Director of the Year by the California State Athletic Directors Association.

-He served in that capacity until 2008 when he was hired as an Assistant Commissioner of Athletics by the California Interscholastic Federation - Southern Section. Currently, Rainer administrates basketball, track & field, cross country and tennis, while also involved with student eligibility for the CIF-SS.