SBUnified
By Santa Barbara Unified School District
Nate Mendoza will be Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) Football’s next Head Coach. The Santa Barbara Unified Board of Trustees voted to approve the appointment Tuesday night.
This marks a return to the sidelines for Mendoza, who previously was Head Coach at Dos Pueblos High School from 2012-2017. He coached the Chargers to Channel League Titles in 2012, 2016, and 2017. In 2017, he led DP to a school record, 12 wins, as they reached the CIF Finals for the second time in school history.
Prior to being head football coach, Mendoza led the DPHS baseball program for 4 years, winning two Channel League titles in 2009 and 2012 while making the CIF playoffs all four seasons. He was named Channel League Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012 in baseball.
“I’m honored and extremely excited to lead this historic football program. I’m highly motivated to make the Santa Barbara High School community proud of the team that we put on the field. More importantly, I will be committed to improving the lives of every student-athlete I coach personally, academically, and athletically by the time they are finished playing for the Dons,” said Coach Mendoza.
The SBHS football program reached the CIF Southern Section Finals in 2019 and, just last season, finished top of the Channel League along with Pacifica and Rio Mesa.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Nate Mendoza as the next head coach of the Santa Barbara High School football team. Nate brings a wealth of experience that will help our program hit the ground running and continue the success that has been built these past few seasons,” said Athletic Director Todd Heil.
Mendoza has been an administrator at SBHS since 2019. In the fall of 2023, he will serve as Dean of Student Engagement and teacher/football coach.
Mendoza’s wife, Jamie Carpio, works as an Administrator in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. They have three children together; Lukas (12), Luna (6), and Lola (1). Mendoza credits his wife for being his rock and making him the coach he is today.
“Anyone who has met Nate Mendoza knows that he loves motivating students. Whether it is serving as an administrator or a coach, he develops long-lasting and impactful relationships with our students. His positive presence in the hallways and in our classrooms now will be felt on the field. With Nate leading the program, I am confident that our student-athletes will thrive and perform at their highest level,” said Principal Elise Simmons.
