Mesa Alumni and Coaches in the Professionals

Mike Martz

Football, Former Head Coach St. Louis Rams, Former Offensive Coordinator Detroit Lions, San Fransisco 49'ers, Chicago Bears

Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mike Martz found his way to San Diego where he started his football playing career at Madison High which opened the door for him to play here at San Diego Mesa College as a tight end in 1969-1970 under head football coach, and current assistant athletic director, Dave Fager. After a successful playing career as an Olympian, Martz graduated from Mesa and went to UC Santa Barbara but decided to continue to play football and transferred to Fresno State and ultimately graduating summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1972. Following his graduation, Martz started his long, illustrious coaching career in 1973 at Bullard High School in Fresno before returning home to coach at Mesa with Coach Evans and Fager from 1974-1977.

After giving back to Mesa, Martz coached at several successful Division I colleges including Fresno State, University of the Pacific, University of Minnesota and Arizona State.

In 1992, he started coaching in the NFL and started with the then, Los Angeles Rams and moved with the team to St. Louis until 1996 as a quarterback and wide receiver coach. After a brief season with the Washington Redskins, Martz was asked to come back to the Rams as an offensive coordinator by head coach, Dick Vermeil. Then in 2000, Vermeil decided to retire from coaching and named Mike Martz as the new head coach of the Rams. Under Martz’s guidance the St. Louis Ram’s were immediately successful as they had a 10-6 record and earned a 1^st round playoff game. In 2001 the Rams were again successful and went 14-2 and his amazing offense was being called, “The Greatest Show on Turf Offense” thanks to the two-time league MVP, quarterback Kurt Warner and San Diego State standout, Marshall Faulk. After seven years with the Rams and 2 Super Bowl appearances, Martz was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2006-2007, San Francisco 49ers during 2008 and 2009, and most recently, the Chicago Bears starting in 2010 until his recent retirement.

Mike Martz is currently residing here in San Diego with his wife.

Matt Kofler

Football, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Quarterback

On Aug. 30, 1959, Coach Matt Kofler was born to Darlene Kofler in Kelso, Wash. The family moved to San Diego in 1973 where he spent the remainder of his life. Kofler graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1978.

Shortly after graduation he came to San Diego Mesa College and went on to become a first team All-American quarterback for Mesa College in 1978 and 1979. He led all the community colleges in the nation in total offense and was named California Player of the Year. Upon his graduation from Mesa, he transferred to SDSU on a football scholarship to continue his career in 1980 and 1981.

Following a successful intercolliegate career, Kofler entered the NFL draft and was selected in the 2nd round as the 48th pick by the Buffalo Bills in 1982. After three years with the Bills, Kofler joined the Indianapolis Colts from 1982-1985.

Coach Kofler returned to Mesa in 1998 as a professor, the offensive coordinator and Director of Recruitment for the Olympians football team. Then in 2006, Kofler was named head coach of the Olympians football team where he led Mesa to a American Mountain Conference title in 2008. During his time at the helm, Kofler transferred 52 football student-athletes to a four year university on athletic scholarships.

Nick Buss

Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfielder

Saturday, September 14th was a big day for Nick Buss. Instead of suiting up in his Albuquerque Isotopes uniform, he found himself in Los Angeles putting on his first major league uniform. The Dodgers called Buss up from the Triple A team to replace one of their injured outfielders. In his major league debut, Buss went 1-3 against former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum in front of the Dodgers home crowd and then the next day, he faced the Giants again going 1-4 while starting in right field. Buss (or Chili as he is called by his teammates) got the nod to be the starter again that following Monday in left field in his first away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The former Mesa centerfielder had an outstanding season with the Olympians. Buss was an offensive weapon hitting .382 with 22 RBI's and scored 30 runs while stealing 21 bases successfully out of 25 attempts. He was named to the 1st Team All Pacific Coast Athletic Conference selection and also received high praise from the state as he was named to the All Southern California Team. Although he was only in the blue and gold for a season in 2006, he was given a scholarship to USC where he was the 109th Trojan to play in the major leagues. From USC, he entered the draft and was the selected by the Dodgers in the 8th round in 2008. He consistently worked his way up from single A minor league to his current assignment in the triple A league where he was batting .303 with 17 homeruns and 100 RBI's during the 2013 season. In his postgame interview Nick Buss commented, "It was very exciting. But suprisingly I felt calm. You get so used to stepping into the batter's box. It was probably a little more nerve-wracking on deck then it is once you step in there. It's just back to business as usual." To follow Nick's stats and see the video of his first major league hit with the Dodgers click here

Aaron Hartsock

Baseball, Kansas City Royals, Pitcher

Dillon Haupt

Baseball, Chicago White Sox

Geoff Geary

Baseball, Philadelphia Phillies

Chris Richard

Baseball, Baltimore Orioles

Joe Rosan

Baseball, Baltimore Orioles, Pitcher

Zack Larson

Baseball, Chicago White Sox, Catcher/1st Base

Griff Erickson

Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, Catcher

Bryan Paukovits

Baseball, Kansas City Royals, Pitcher

John Rumsey

Baseball, Minnesota Twins, Outfield

Tim Tisch

Baseball, Chicago White Sox, Pitcher

Jason Enomoto

Baseball, Japan (Professional), Catcher

Brett Callan

Baseball, Houston Astros, Catcher/1st Base

Mike Rabb

Men's Soccer, Germany