As the Mesa Olympians Football squad prepare for their 2014 season, longtime quarterback coach Thad Porlas was named the new head coach for the Olympians. Coach Porlas has been with the blue and gold since 2009 and previously from 2001-1997. Coach Porlas knows the discipline it will take to not only create a winning team but a team who will follow a newly appointed head coach. Coach Porlas' first goal for the 2014 team is to build a system based on personal discipline and accountability for the players, as well as, the staff. Coach Porlas and his staff are dedicated to ensuring that players succeed as students, athletes, and contributing members of the community.
If there was any question to Coach Porlas' credibility as a head coach for a community college team, his background speaks volumes. This will be his eleventh season with the Olympians (2009-Present); (1997-2001). In addition to Head Coach, Porlas will be the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. He has been privileged to coach the San Diego Enforcers (2008-present) where he is the Associated Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator in the National Public Safety Football League which is comprised of 29 teams of law enforcement personnel around the United States. The San Diego Enforcers have won the National Championship in 2012 and have been enshrined into the San Diego Hall of Champions (2012). Porlas, coached at Cathedral Catholic High School (University of San Diego High School) (2004-2008), where he was the Quarterbacks and Receivers Coach. During his tenure at Cathedral Catholic, they won back to back Division III CIF titles and the Division II CIF State Championship (2008). Coach Porlas spent a year with the San Diego Riptides in the Arena Football League –AF2 (2003) as Receivers Coach. He was the Quarterbacks Coach at the University of San Diego (2001-2003). In 2003, USD was the North Division Champions in the Pioneer League. He coached Eric Rasmussen who led the nation in the NCAA Division I FCS in Passing Efficiency in 2002 & 2003; which earned Eric the honor of being named American Football Coaches Association All-American Quarterback in 2003. Coach Porlas had the opportunity to coach in the All American Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada; California vs Minnesota Junior College All Star Game (2000), he was the Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach. Porlas has coached the Alex Spanos All Star Football Classic game with the Cathedral Catholic High School (University of San Diego High School) staff. He started his football coaching career at Point Loma High School.