UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Outside Linebackers Coach
Alex McKeon joined University of San Diego Athletics in September of 2022 and serves as the primary communications contact for USD's women's soccer, women's basketball, softball and cross country/track & field programs.
McKeon joins the Toreros after a year and a half as an athletic communications assistant at Duke University. While with the Blue Devils, McKeon served as the primary contact for several teams - men's soccer, softball, men's and women's cross country/track & field, wrestling and women's tennis. McKeon would oversee the communications strategy of several top programs and moments, including the first NCAA Super Regional appearance in Duke softball history, the first ACC women's track & field championship in program history, deep NCAA Tournament runs for men's soccer and women's tennis and several All-Americans across multiple sports.
McKeon got his start in college athletics with the University of Pennsylvania as an athletic communications assistant, where he spent a year up until the COVID-19 pandemic. McKeon was the primary contact for volleyball, softball, men's tennis, men's and women's squash and men's and women's fencing. McKeon oversaw the promotion of the national runner up men's squash program, as well as five squash All-Americans. McKeon also spent several months with Division III program Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio in a similar role.
Prior to entering college athletics, McKeon spent a season as the Media Relations Coordinator with the Durham Bulls (AAA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays). McKeon was responsible for the production of the 2019 media guide, as well as media requests, game notes and more. McKeon also spent a season working with the Washington Commanders as a communications intern, directly coordinating media requests, producing weekly media guides and post game transcription of interviews.
Job Titles:
- Budget Analyst
- Business Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Anderson Haigler joined University of San Diego Athletics in January of 2020. He works directly with the Toreros' football, women's volleyball, baseball, golf, men's and women's rowing, and swimming and diving teams, overseeing and executing all aspects of their media relations, sports information, web, graphic design, and social media strategies while also contributing long-form feature articles for USDToreros.com.
Since beginning his career as a Media Relations Intern, Haigler has been called upon to tell the stories of USD's most accomplished programs and highest-profile head coaches, while at some point spending time handling day-to-day communications duties for each of the Toreros' 17 Division I sports.
During his three-year tenure in Alcala Park he has expertly leveraged his teams' successes on the national stage, publicizing five NCAA postseason teams in addition to hosting two rounds of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship on campus. Haigler has worked with four All-Americans, three WCC Players of the Year, a WCC Setter, Libero, and Coach of the Year, seven MLB Draft picks, and three athletes that were selected in the Athletes Unlimited College Draft.
In 2022 he oversaw all publicity efforts for the most successful season in USD Athletics history, advising AVCA National Coach of the Year Jennifer Petrie on her and San Diego volleyball's communication strategy as the Toreros won 28 straight matches, achieved a No. 2 national ranking, went undefeated in the West Coast Conference, and advanced to the NCAA National Semifinal (Final Four).
Prior to USD Athletics, Haigler worked in journalism, covering youth, high school, college, and professional sports across both broadcast and print media for a variety of outlets, including The San Diego Union-Tribune, USD Magazine, The East Village Times, Triple Crown Sports, and Scorebook Live California.
As a reporter for USD Student Media, he won two awards from the California College Media Association for his stories on San Diego's football and men's basketball programs.
A San Diego native, Haigler graduated from the University of San Diego in January of 2020 with a degree in Communication Studies. He is the longest-tenured member of San Diego's Strategic Communications department after previously spending time as a Media Relations Intern and Communications Assistant.
Austen Jacobs joined the University of San Diego football staff in July of 2022 as the Offensive Line Coach. 2023 will mark his second season in Alcala Park. Jacobs came to USD from Lamar University, where he coached tight ends.
Prior to Lamar, Jacobs worked with an offensive front at San Diego State that helped produce nearly 350 yards of offense per game. During that stretch the Aztecs advanced to two bowl game appearances including a 10-win season and a victory in the New Mexico Bowl in 2019.
Jacobs previously served as a graduate assistant at Northwestern State working with the Demons' tight ends. Before his stint in Natchitoches, La., Jacobs spent 2016 at Humboldt State and was key in the development of running back Ja'Quan Gardner. Under Jacobs guidance, Gardner earned Division II All-America accolades. During his time with the Lumberjacks, Jacobs recruited the San Francisco and San Jose areas.
Jacobs began his professional career as an offensive quality control coach at Colorado State. He spent two seasons with the Rams serving under head coach Jim McElwain.
Jacobs received his bachelor's degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M in 2014. He has completed work toward a master's degree in homeland security.
Bart Thompson enters his second year as San Diego men's rowing's head coach in 2022 after being named to the position on September 29, 2021 by University of San Diego Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis.
"I am thrilled that Bart Thompson will serve as the next leader of our men's rowing program," McGillis said. "We have big-time momentum in our program right now, and I'm confident Coach Thompson will successfully build on the foundation established by every individual who has been a part of USD crew. I believe Bart will provide the positive, inspirational leadership necessary to achieve our vision of Winning in the Community, Winning on the Playing Field and Winning in the Classroom. Bart's values truly align with those of USD and I am confident that when they are coupled with his passion for teaching, his expertise, and his ability to connect with prospective and current Torero scholar-athletes, we will enjoy great success."
Thompson takes over for Ben Hise, who departed the program last summer, and joins the Toreros from Adrian College, where he was tasked with founding the Bulldogs' program from scratch and oversaw the design and construction of the teams' $4 million boathouse.
A rising star in the college rowing world, Thompson led the Bulldogs from 2017-2021, and managed all aspects of the program. His final season coaching the Bulldogs saw the program take four boats to the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) championship and win all four events in addition to winning the Men's Points Trophy. Thompson was voted the 2021 MARC Men's Coach of the Year for his efforts.
"I'm humbled, honored, and excited to be the next Head Coach of Men's Rowing at the University of San Diego," Thompson said. "From my first conversations with Athletic Director McGillis and his wonderful staff, it was evident that their mission and values align with my own. They have a strong desire to build a winning program, but even more importantly a desire to develop young people of character who will succeed in all aspects of their lives. USD is a premier Catholic university in an equally great city, set on a beautiful body of water for rowing. The previous head coach did a wonderful job developing this roster, and I'm excited to work with Coach Janiak and these driven young men to take the program to even greater heights. I had the opportunity to visit with three outstanding and passionate members of the USD alumni rowing community during the hiring process, and I am very much looking forward to engaging with them, and the many other alumni who care so much, to preserve and strengthen the tradition of the Torero program."
Prior to Adrian College, Thompson was an assistant founder and served as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri's Kansas City Rowing Club in Kansas City (2016-2017), as well as the co-founder and head coach for the men's & women's juniors program at the Kansas City Boat Club (2015-2017).
He began his coaching career at his high school alma mater St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio, where he was the associate head coach and novice coach from 2012-2014 as the program won more medals than in any other two-year span in program history.
Thompson, who has completed USRowing's Level II Advanced Coaching certification, attended Stanford University and graduated with a degree in American History. While at Stanford, Thompson was a two-sport athlete (lacrosse and rowing), picking up lacrosse after suffering a recurring back injury that forced him into retiring from rowing.
Thompson is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Director
- Associate Vice President / Executive Director of Athletics
David Cormier was officially announced as San Diego women's rowing's head coach in September of 2022.
The 11th head coach in program history and the seventh in USD's West Coast Conference era, Cormier had served as the Toreros' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator since 2019.
"I'm tremendously excited about the appointment of Dave Cormier as our Head Women's Rowing Coach," said Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis. "During his time as an assistant coach at USD, David has demonstrated that his values, his care for the women in our program, and his passion for servant leadership align with who we are not only as a department, but as an institution. I am confident that his deep knowledge of our team, the WCC, and West Coast rowing in general will elevate our program to the next level."
A Worcester, Massachusetts native, Cormier entered his ninth year in coaching this fall.
"I am honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of San Diego women's rowing," Cormier said. "The coaches who came before me laid a great foundation that has attracted and developed some of the best athletes I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and we're all ready to put in the work this year. Our fall season is already off to a great start and there's an atmosphere of excitement at the boathouse every morning. I'd like to thank the search committee, in particular our Athletic Director, Bill McGillis, and our Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration, Dan Yourg, for entrusting me with this opportunity."
Cormier's coaching career began at his alma mater, UMass Lowell (from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude) as the River Hawks' head coach and boathouse coordinator, a position he held from 2013-2015. While at UMass Lowell he oversaw all boathouse events, expanded the team from 30 to more than 75 athletes, and created and implemented facility-wise safety policies and procedures.
From Lowell, Cormier moved to Westford, Massachusetts to become the head coach and program director at Westford Community Rowing, where he oversaw all operations of the rowing programs, from instructional to competitive. His tenure in Westford (2015-2017) saw the club achieve a national ranking for the first time in club history while doubling its membership in its middle school segment and tripling the size of its adult rowing program.
Cormier's final stop before joining the Toreros came at nearby San Diego State, where he served as the Aztecs' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator and coached SDSU's V4+ and 2V4+ to first-place finishes at WIRA in the 2019-2020 season.
Cormier was a bronze medalist at the 2011 New England Rowing Championships with the UMass Lowell Varsity 4+. He was a member of the Merrimac River Rowing Association from 2012-2015, and has competed with the San Diego Rowing Club's Masters Competitive Team since 2021.
David currently resides in San Diego with his partner, Mengyu Wu.
Bill McGillis was introduced as the University of San Diego's new Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics on December 20, 2016. With his first official day on campus being January 23, 2017, McGillis takes over for Ky Snyder who was promoted to Vice President for Operations and COO. McGillis comes to the University of San Diego from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he has been Director of Athletics since July of 2013.
In six years at the University of San Diego, McGillis has helped guide the Toreros to national success. From January of 2017 to January of 2023, USD captured 15 conference championships and 20 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development
Billy McKnight joined the staff ahead of the 2022-23 season as Director of Player Development.
He has been around basketball staffs for the last 22 years, beginning as the Head Coach at Tamalpais High School in 2000.
From there, McKnight was a graduate manager at Oregon. From 2010-2014, he spent time in China in various coaching roles.
McKnight returned to the United States as the Head Basketball Coach at Prolific Prep, with two stints from 2015-19 and 2021-22.
In between, he served as head coach at the United States Basketball Academy in Oregon.
McKnight graduated from UC San Diego in 1997, where was a student-athlete on the baseball team. He later received his MBA from Oregon in 2005.
Brandon Moore, the AFCA DII National Coach of the Year, was named the 14th head coach of the University of San Diego football team on April 19, 2023.
Moore made history in his first season as head coach of Colorado School of Mines, leading the Orediggers to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Championship Game. He's no stranger to national success, winning the National Championship in 2001 as a linebacker at Oklahoma. Moore then spent seven years in the NFL, including six with the San Francisco 49ers, appearing in 90 games and making 249 career tackles.
"Brandon Moore is a big-time winner, and I could not be more thrilled for the young men in our football program, our former players and the entire university community that he has accepted the opportunity to serve as our head coach," said McGillis. "Coach Moore is a dynamic and inspirational leader whose presence will have an enormous impact on our program. He brings outstanding pedigree as a player, having won a national championship while at Oklahoma and having played six-plus years in the NFL. As a coach, Brandon has demonstrated an outstanding record of success as a position coach, defensive coordinator and head coach, and he has done so in a highly-competitive academic environment with exceptional students. His focus on the education of the scholar-athletes he coaches, their well-being and their futures beyond football makes him a great match for the University of San Diego. I am very confident Coach Moore will build on the amazing legacy of Dale Lindsey and the strong foundation of championship success established by all of our former players and coaches."
After being elevated to head coach before the 2022 season, Moore wasted no time making his mark, earning AFCA National, AFCA Regional, NFFCC Colorado, and RMAC Coach of the Year honors. He spent six years on the Oredigger staff before the promotion, building the defense into one of the nation's top units. With Moore in charge last season, Mines led the nation in sacks per game, turnovers forced, fumbles recovered, scoring offense, red zone offense, first downs, and team passing efficiency.
"Our family is extremely excited about this new chapter in our lives," said Moore. "We are looking forward to this new challenge and opportunity to be a part of the winning tradition at the University of San Diego. The university's commitment to academic success, the stunning campus, and the decades-long athletic department success presents an ideal place to call home. I'm grateful to the long list of USD players, coaches, and staff that have built the football program into national prominence and look forward to continuing the climb. We can't wait to get started."
Brian Quinn will enter his sixth season as head coach of the San Diego men's soccer team in 2023, and few men have impacted the sport in the city more than Quinn.
Quinn orchestrated one of the best seasons in program history in 2023. After the Toreros were selected to finish seventh in the WCC Preseason Poll, USD went a perfect 6-0-1 in conference play to secure the WCC Championship. He was named WCC Coach of the Year for those efforts, and guided USD to its first NCAA appearance since 2014. San Diego lost just twice in its last 15 matches (8-2-5), and finished undefeated in WCC play for just the second time in program history (first since 2000). The Toreros outscored opponents 17-4 in WCC play. Quinn guided the team to two All-Region selections, the WCC Defender of the Year, the WCC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, the WCC Freshman of the Year, and 13 total All-WCC selections. Not surprisingly, USD earned United Soccer Coaches West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Quinn moved to the United States in 1981 to play for the outdoor Los Angeles Aztecs, but it was in San Diego where he would soon make a significant mark. Quinn played on eight straight San Diego Sockers indoor championship teams when that collection of international personalities regularly filled the old San Diego Sports Arena.
Quinn earned his U.S. citizenship, shifted his playing focus to the outdoors and earned 48 caps for the United States national team. In all, Quinn played 16 professional seasons.
His playing days done, Quinn coached professionally in the Major Soccer League and locally at the highest youth levels. As the girls varsity coach at The Bishop's Academy, Quinn led the Knights to San Diego Section high school titles.
Quinn spent 11 seasons as Seamus McFadden's assistant at San Diego before being named the Toreros' head coach in 2018. The two men switched roles with McFadden, San Diego's head coach the previous 39 years, becoming Quinn's assistant.
"He's going to be fantastic," said McFadden.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( MSOC, WROW, WTEN )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Ticketing and Operations
Carlos Moreno joined San Diego volleyball in December of 2022 as the Toreros' associate head coach. He will begin his first season with USD in 2023.
Moreno was previously at Arizona State, where he had been the Sun Devils' associate head coach since February of 2017. In March of 2022, he was named an assistant coach for the 2022 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team (WCNT).
"With a great amount of enthusiasm and excitement, it is my pleasure to welcome and announce Carlos Moreno as our new Associate Head Volleyball Coach at the University of San Diego," head coach Jennifer Petrie said. "Carlos brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience both as a tremendous player and coach. The future and legacy of San Diego volleyball is in great hands, and we look forward to many years of continued success."
Moreno helped steer ASU through a developmental period across his six seasons in Phoenix, assisting the Sun Devils in three Top-15 wins and an AVCA Top 25 ranking in 2018, sweeps over Arizona, Oregon, and Oregon State in 2019, two wins over ranked opponents in the challenging, COVID-19-altered 2020-2021 season, and four wins against ranked Pac-12 teams this year in 2022. That campaign saw him coach setter Ella Snyder to a team-high 1,029 assists, the most by a single Sun Devil since 2014.
While with the WCNT in 2022, he was tasked with observing and evaluating NCAA athletes with the highest potential alongside the six other members of the program's coaching staff, which included three Olympic medal winners and two others with Olympic coaching experience. The team included 38 of the country's top collegiate women's volleyball players at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, California, where they trained among the best collegiate players in the country, watched the WNT training sessions, studied the USA systems, and met with Tokyo 2020 Olympians and were observed by the WNT staff.
"My family and I are excited about this wonderful opportunity to join the University of San Diego," said Moreno. "I want to thank President James T Harris III, Associate Vice President / Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis, and head coach Jennifer Petrie for trusting me, and I am looking forward to getting to know the team, the alumni and engaging with our fans and volleyball community.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( SOFT, FB, XC )
Caitie "CC" Colitti joined the University of San Diego Sports Medicine staff in fall of 2019. Her daily duties include administrative assignments, evaluation, care and prevention of athletic injuries for all of the universities intercollegiate athletes. CC's primary sport responsibilities are softball, football, and the spirit team comprised of both cheer and dance.
Prior to USD, CC spent three years at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH where she provided care for the women's volleyball and men's lacrosse teams. Before her position at Dartmouth, CC was an intern at the United States Naval Academy where she provided care for both men's and women's rugby teams and shared the responsibility of care for women's tennis and golf teams. During her time as a Graduate Assistant at George Washington, CC taught two labs, Prevention and Care of Injury and Injury Evaluation, to undergraduate students.
Education and Certifications
MS Exercise Science with a concentration in strength and conditioning from the George Washington University
BS Athletic Training from the University of New Hampshire
BOC Certified Athletic Trainer
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
American Heart Association CPR/AED Certified
Personal
CC was born and raised on the east coast in New Hampshire. She grew up playing ice hockey alongside her older sister, but now enjoys training for and running marathons. She currently resides in San Diego with her rescue pup, Tinka.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Charlotte Smith joined San Diego women's rowing in the fall of 2022 as the Toreros' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Smith grew up in Wayland, Massachusetts. Her parents, both formerly rowers and coaches, supported the variety of athletic endeavors she pursued. She finally gave rowing a try her junior year of high school, joining the Wayland-Weston rowing program. She continued her rowing career at Division 1 George Washington University, spending all four years in the First Varsity boat. She graduated in 2017 with a degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science, and awards including MVP and Atlantic 10 First Team Conference Honors.
Smith also spent her summers sculling with clubs in Boston and Washington, DC, including Potomac Boat Club and Vesper. She was invited to the U23 sweep camp at Princeton in 2017, and after graduating started training with the High Performance Group at Riverside Boat Club in Boston.
Smith started coaching novice rowers at Community Rowing in Boston, Massachusetts in the spring of 2018. She then moved to the Varsity program at Dexter-Southfield School, Massachusetts for the 2019 racing season. Sun, sand, and surf called and she accepted the job offer of assistant coach at UC San Diego in fall of 2019, where she served from 2019-2022.
She currently resides in San Diego and enjoys watching the sun set over the bay from the roof of her apartment.
Chris Riley is in his sixth season leading the USD men's golf program in 2022-23. He was named the seventh head coach in program history in June 2017.
Riley's fifth season leading the Toreros saw the program notch back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances for the first time since the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 campaigns. Building off 2020-2021's NCAA Championship appearance, San Diego won the Hoakalei Country Club Invitational (October 24-26) before notching a second-place finish at the PING Cougar Classic (April 22-23). USD qualified for the NCAA Palm Beach Garden Regionals as an at-large selection and placed 8th of 14 teams at PGA National Resort from May 16-18.
Three of Riley's players won tournaments in 2021-2022 (Harrison Kingsley, Charlie Reiter, and Andi Xu), one took home All-WCC Team honors (Kingsley) and one qualified for and competed in the U.S. Open at The Country Club (Reiter).
In his fourth season at the helm, Riley helped the Toreros return to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2011. San Diego qualified after a top-five finish at the Albuquerque regional as the Toreros stormed back in the final round as Andi Xu nailed a 12-foot put for birdie on the 18 to secure the victory. The Toreros finished the 2020-21 season with seven top five finishes.
Job Titles:
- Sports Analyst at Krossover Sports
- Video Coordinator
Chris Simpson joined the USD staff as a video coordinator ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Most recently, he was the head varsity basketball coach at Dymally High School in Los Angeles.
Prior to that, he was a grad assistant at LMU and the Director of Operations at Wagner College in 2014-15.
Simpson served as the video manager as an undergraduate at St. John's with Coach Lavin (2010-14).
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Coach at Wyoming
Cindy Fisher was named the University of San Diego head women's basketball coach on April 19, 2005.
Coach Fisher (19th season), has guided the Toreros to six 20-win seasons in the past 12 years. In that 12 year span, USD has recorded a .620 win percentage. Fisher is currently 330-224 during her tenure at San Diego.
The 2022-23 season marked a return to the WNIT Super 16, as the Toreros finished 19-14 overall under Coach Fisher. The Toreros were paced by Ayanna Khalfani, who earned WCC Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, marking the fourth player under Fisher and the second consecutive season with a Torero winning the award. Khalfani (All-WCC Second Team), Kiera Oakry (Second Team), Kasey Neubert (Honorable Mention) and Veronica Sheffey (All-Freshman Team) earned awards under Fisher. San Diego would earn back-to-back home wins in the WNIT over Long Beach State and UC Irvine, before falling to Oregon.
Fisher helped to guide the 2021-22 side back to the WNIT, where they advanced to the second round as part of a 17-15 campaign. Jordyn Edwards was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year and Sydney Hunter was tabbed to the All-WCC FIrst Team to lead a Toreros squad that bounced back from an injury to star player Myah Pace early in the season.
Fisher guided the Toreros through a re-tooling of the roster in 2019-20, advancing to the WCC Championship. San Diego garnered an 11-game improvement from 2018-19 as Fisher was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the third time in her tenure. She coached All-WCC first team selection and All-Tournament team honoree, Myah Pace, to become the all-time single season steals leader at USD. The Toreros earned an automatic bid to the WNIT after falling to Portland in overtime, which was later canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Job Titles:
- Director of Football Operations / Video Coordinator
Cody Tescher enters his sixth season as San Diego's director of football operations in 2023. He also serves as the Toreros' video coordinator.
Tescher oversees all day-to-day management of the USD football program, including but not limited to travel, transportation, budgeting, scholar-athlete management, recruiting, and liaising between the team and San Diego Athletics' compliance, business, facilities, athletic training, equipment, and sports information offices.
He joined the Toreros from Northern Illinois University, where he worked both as the Assistant Director of Football Operations (2019-2020) and as a graduate assistant for football operations.
Prior to Northern Illinois, he worked as the director of football operations at UC Davis.
A 2014 University of San Diego graduate, Tescher played football for the Toreros from 2011 to 2013. His playing career saw him earn Scholar Athlete and All-Conference honors alongside a USD Offensive Lineman of the Year Award while maintaining a 3.16 GPA.
Tescher is currently in his second stint as San Diego football's director of operations after previously serving in the position from October 2014 to June 2016. He has also coached USD's tight ends (assistant, March 2021-April 2021) and worked as the director of operations for USD softball (February 2014-July 2014).
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Job Titles:
- Staff Assistant
- Director of Scouting and Analytics
Dan McGinley joined as a staff assistant prior to the 2022-23 season.
He most recently served as the Video Coordinator/Assistant Director of Basketball Operations at Saint Peter's in 2021-22, including a memorable run to the Elite Eight.
McGinley's passion for basketball was handed down by his grandfather, Jack McGinley, a NYC Hall of Fame Coach. Daniel's brother, Jack, graduated from Villanova University, where he worked under Jay Wright (2011-15). He currently is a Manager in Basketball Operations at the NBA in New York City.
McGinley graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2017 with a degree in PR and Sports Management.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Senior Associate
- Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration
Dan Yourg, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration, oversees USD Athletics' Budget and Business Operations, Human Resource Services, Academic Support, Compliance, Equipment, Facilities and Operations, Sports Medicine, and Strength and Conditioning units.
Yourg's current sport oversight responsibilities include Football, Baseball, Women's and Men's Rowing, Men's and Women's Soccer, and Women's Tennis. He has previously supervised Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's Tennis, Men's and Women's Cross Country/Women's Track, Men's Golf, and Softball.
In addition, he has administrative oversight of athletics scholarships and is the liaison to Admissions, Budget and Treasury, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Campus Card, Housing, Dining Services, Office of Ethical Development and Restorative Practices, and Student Wellness. Yourg is a national member of CABMA, the College Athletic Business Management Association. He has volunteered in the San Diego community serving on The Board of Directors for Tecolote Youth Baseball and The Wayback.
Yourg got his start in Intercollegiate Athletics in the BIG 10 where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin. He played nose guard for four years and was a letterwinner on the Badgers Football team. Yourg is an inductee of the St. Viator High School (Arlington Heights, Illinois) Athletic Hall of Fame.
Prior to working at USD Yourg coached high school football and worked with Lutheran Social Services for five years in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dan and his wife Virginia (Stehly), a USD alumnus, are the parents of three sons, John, Thomas and Michael.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( VB, BASE, SWIM )
Danielle Murray joined the San Diego Sports Medicine Staff in the fall of 2021. Prior to USD, she spent two years at fellow West Coast Conference institution Saint Mary's, where she served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with the baseball and women's soccer programs. Prior to that, she spent her first year out of graduate school as an Athletic Training Intern at USD, working as the Softball & Swimming and Diving Athletic Trainer in addition to assisting with Football.
She currently serves as the Toreros' Baseball, Swimming & Diving, and Volleyball Athletic Trainer. Murray's other duties include administrative assignments, evaluation, care and prevention of athletic injuries for all of the university's intercollegiate athletes. She is a Preceptor for the Master's in Athletic Trainer Students from San Diego State University and Point Loma Nazarene. She also oversees athletic training observation students from San Diego State University, who are looking to apply for the Master's in Athletic Training Program.
Murray graduated with a Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology and a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and a Master's in Athletic Training from the College of St. Scholastica.
Her professional Certifications include NATA BOC Certified Athletic Trainer, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, Graston M1 Certified, Blood Flow Restriction Certified, and American Heart Association CPR/AED Certified.
She originates from Wisconsin, but now resides in San Diego with her boyfriend Tim, and dog Bruce.
A 1996 graduate of USD and former world-class BMX athlete, Dr. Jason Richardson works closely with Torero scholar-athletes as a sports psychologist.
Dr. Richardson knows that being a champion increases one's true impact. This begins with growing one's mindset and getting to work on a new path.
Neuroscience, behavioral science, positive psychology, sport psychology, and good old fashion wisdom are but just a few of the ingredients Dr. Richardson employs as he helps people become champions in their own lives.
While competing as a professional BMX athlete, Dr. Richardson was able to graduate college and go on to earn both an MBA in Global Management from USD and a Doctorate in Psychology.
His successful career transitions and experiences in competition and business are the foundation (and proof!) for his #ChampionshipLife ethos--Winning in Business, Sport, and Life!
Job Titles:
- Specialist
- Sport Psychologist
Dr. Jeff Jones is a depression and anxiety specialist, and he mainly works from a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) foundation in helping individuals overcome their symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Dr. Jones also specializes in sports psychology and performance enhancement and has been working in that specialty for over 27 years. He is a Certified Mental Performance Coach (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP). He has been in his role as an independent consultant with USD Athletics for the last six years.
Richard Uhler DO, has been a physician in the Temecula Valley since 1997, his office is conveniently located at 31493 Rancho Pueblo Road, Suite 206, Temecula, CA 92592.
Dr. Uhler is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Osteopathic Family Physicians. He is also recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Uhler is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Duke University. In addition, he is board certified in Geriatric Medicine by the American Board of Geriatric Medicine.
A graduate of the Des Moines University School of Medicine; Des Moines, Iowa, he completed his internship and residency at San Bernardino County Medical Center; San Bernardino, CA.
Dr. Uhler has built his practice with dedication to the highest standards in healthcare. His primary goal is assisting patients achieve and maintain their health while providing empathy, compassion and support for their success.
Dr. Uhler's commitment to healthcare extends beyond the clinic to the community. His support of the community includes serving as the Team Physician at both Murrieta Valley High School since 1997 and Linfield Christian School since 2009; where he provides medical care to the athletic program. He donates his time to educate athletes on multiple topics including the negative effects of steroid use. Annually, Dr Uhler conducts between 800 - 1000 student athlete physicals for student athletes from Murrieta Valley High School, Linfield Christian School, Temecula Valley High School, Cornerstone Christian, and Santa Rosa Academy, donating the proceeds back to the athletic department at each school.
Since 2000 Dr. Uhler has volunteered as the Team Physician for Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy (SCEGA) providing medical coverage at several gymnastic events locally and across the United States. In addition, Dr. Uhler is a Team Physician for the University of San Diego Toreros (USD) since 2000. He's been a Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team Staff Physician & Women USA Gymnastics Team Physician since 2007.
Dr. Uhler was awarded the Vocational Service Award by the Temecula Noon Rotary Club in 2007 for his continuous support of the community and was recognized as a 2011 Citizen of the Year Nominee by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) and a 2021 Business of the Year Nominee by the TVCC.
My approach in therapy: Dr. Franklin aims to work collaboratively with clients, empowering them in various capacities, including individual therapy work and group therapy. Dr. Franklin's theoretical approach integrates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and interpersonal therapy, tailoring her style to fit the needs of the client and their treatment goals. She focuses on developing a strong therapeutic relationship so that clients can feel safe to explore their inner world in a unique way. Her goal is to aid clients in developing new insights, identifying unhelpful interpersonal and behavioral patterns, and creating meaningful change. Dr. Franklin has also found that the exploration of social structures, power dynamics, and how these issues relate to and influence relationships can be very beneficial in therapy work.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Dr. Franklin actively works to dismantle systemic oppression and white supremacy both professionally and personally. Dr. Franklin is deeply committed to serving historically marginalized communities and has extensive experience providing mental health services to marginalized populations including ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ population, and those who identify as transgender and/or gender diverse. She believes a person's identities have a profound impact on the way they interpret and experience the world.
Job Titles:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant
- Member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
- Sport Psychologist
Dr. Shira Oretzky is a sport psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, who has dedicated her career to helping top-tier athletes develop a high-performance mindset and well-being strategies to reach their full potential. She has a private practice in Del Mar, where she specializes in working with collegiate, Olympic, and professional athletes. Dr. Oretzky has served as an independent sport psychology consultant to USD Athletics for the past two years. Prior to her work with USD, Dr. Oretzky held a 15-year faculty appointment at San Diego State University, where she developed the Student-Athlete Mental Health and Wellness program with the Athletics Department.
Dr. Oretzky is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Sport Psychology and Mental Health Registries and the National Basketball Player's Association's (NBPA) Mental Health and Wellness Registry. She has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Psychological Association and chaired the SDPA Sport Psychology Committee. Dr. Oretzky has presented at various domestic and international conferences and her work has been featured in publication.
In addition to her local pursuits, Dr. Oretzky has lived, worked and traveled to more than 30 countries. This international experience brings a unique multicultural perspective to her work.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Trainer
- Head
- Director of Sports Medicine / Head Athletics Trainer ( Football and MBB )
Bisnett-Cobb boasts a wealth of knowledge and experience after previous stops with two NFL teams and serving as an associate athletic trainer with UC San Diego from 2014-18.
"I am very pleased to announce that Eli has returned to the University of San Diego to serve as our Head Athletic Trainer for Sports Medicine," said McGillis. "Having previously served on Carolyn Greer's staff, Eli understands first-hand the exceptional culture of care that has been established at USD. I know that our student-athletes' health and welfare will remain at the forefront of our program under his leadership, and I am very excited for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.
"Eli has earned an outstanding reputation as a result of his terrific work at USD, UCSD and in the NFL, and the wealth of experience he brings to our program will be of immense value. Eli is very well-trained and is passionate both about his craft and the student-athletes he serves. I am very confident that his positive energy and leadership style will enable us to build on the great foundation already in place."
USD is a familiar place for Bisnett-Cobb, having worked as an assistant athletic trainer from 2008-10.
Sanfilippo joins the Toreros from Albion FC, where he coached from 2018 to early 2021. In his tenure with the club, he served as its General Manager/Director of Operations in addition to instructing the U-19 Developmental Academy teams. In 2019, he led the '04 squad to the Fall NPSL 2019 Championship. While with Albion FC, Sanfilippo was the head coach for both the '04 and '06 MLS next teams.
Sanfilippo, a native of San Diego, California, attended San Jose State University, playing four seasons for the Spartans from 1999-2003 while earning a degree in Criminology. After his time at SJSU concluded, Sanfilippo put together a decorated professional career, playing for six different clubs from 2004-2016. A 2006 USL All-Star with the Rochester Rhinos, he won the 2012 NASL Championship with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, with whom he was named a team captain and made over 100 appearances.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director for Creative Video
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Coach / Co - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance
- COMPLIANCE
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Director, Facilities and Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Facilities and Operations
Petrie became the third head coach in USD program history in 1999, succeeding three-time WCC Coach of the Year Sue Snyder. The Toreros enjoyed immediate success under Petrie, finishing 23-6 and advancing into the NCAA Tournament's second round during her inaugural season in the fall of 1999.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach / Yoga
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Commissioner of the Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League
Jimmy Lundgren enters his sixth season with the San Diego volleyball program as an assistant coach in 2023. Lundgren also serves as recruiting coordinator for the Toreros.
In his first five seasons at USD, Lundgren has helped the Toreros to a 107-34 record, five NCAA Tournament appearances (including a Final Four) and the 2019 and 2022 West Coast Conference Championships. In addition to his recruiting, training and scouting responsibilities, Lundgren is also USD's technical coordinator and oversees all logistics for the program.
"Jimmy adds technical savvy, tremendous coaching experience, and strong organizational skills to our program," said head coach, Jennifer Petrie. "More importantly, he is highly respected in the coaching community. His strong ethical and moral values align perfectly with our program and the standards of the University of San Diego. Jimmy has experience in recruiting, game management, opponent scouting and he has a strong moral character that inspires both the team and the staff."
Prior to joining USD, Jimmy was an assistant coach with the Point Loma Nazarene University Sea Lions for four seasons. Lundgren's duties included being the recruiting coordinator, along with playing a pivotal role in running practices, match preparation and game-time decisions.
Lundgren joined Point Loma prior to the 2014 season with a plethora of experience for such a young coach. During his four seasons, PLNU has gone 62-53, including 48-32 in the PacWest. Before Point Loma, Lundgren served as a volunteer assistant with the University of Minnesota in 2013 and previously he was a volunteer assistant with USA Volleyball where he worked with the men's and women's teams (2012), and alongside two-time Olympic Gold and Silver Medal coach Hugh McCutcheon.
Lundgren also served as an assistant for the California Baptist men's volleyball team in 2011. In that span, he helped the Lancers to a 2011 NAIA national championship. Lundgren's coaching ability earned him national recognition on the AVCA's 30 Under 30 list, tabbing him as one of the 30 top up-and-coming coaches in the country.
Lundgren is the current commissioner of the Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League and as part of his duties, organizes the league for over 40 men's and women's college clubs in Southern California. In the spring of 2013, he was also an assistant coach with the women's Irvine Valley College sand volleyball team. In that brief time, he aided head coach Tom Pestolesi win the Intercollegiate Sand Volleyball Conference State Championship.
As an APU assistant with head coach Chris Keife, he helped lead the 2009 team to a 28-9 overall record and coaching the NAIA Player of the Year, Jill Baker. The Cougars finished third in the GSAC and with a fifth-overall ranking in the NAIA. Lundgren was again part of the 2010 APU staff that led the Cougars to a fourth place GSAC finish and No. 8 NAIA ranking. He received his second AVCA 30 Under 30 award after the 2012 season.
Lundgren played a season at Palomar College while coaching the men's volleyball team at his alma mater, San Dieguito Academy HS. In that span, the team finished third in the division twice and won the Coastal Conference title in back-to-back years alongside with Dexter Harvey. As a high school athlete Lundgren led his team as a setter and captain and was named All-Coastal League first team and All-San Diego County first team his senior year with SDA finishing third in the country his final season.
He competed on the APU men's club team, leading them to a Southern California Collegiate Volleyball League Central Division championship. In 2008 Lundgren was the APU president, coach, player and captain for the club team, helping to reform the program. As an athlete, Lundgren was First Team All-Central, and all-tournament recipient. In 2009, Lundgren toured in Russia with Athletes in Action as the team's setter. In 2010, he was the team's libero and faced Brazil's Junior National Team and three professional Brazilian teams. As the head coach, he led APU club team to an undefeated Central Division title in 2012 and in 2013 as the team finished fifth at the NCVF tournament (National Collegiate Volleyball Federation). Two athletes were later named to the all-tournament team.
Lundgren graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis in media studies from APU in 2009. Lundgren earned his Master of Science in Physical Education in December of 2010.
Lundgren married Leanne Stennett in the spring of 2015. She is a graduate of the Azusa Pacific doctorate program in Physical Therapy. The couple has two daughters, Lucy and Josie.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Scholar
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Athletic Performance
Job Titles:
- Director of Transportation
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( WBB, MROW )
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Diving Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Director, Facilities and Operations
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( WSOC, Baseball, Golf )
Job Titles:
- Director of Volleyball Operations
Job Titles:
- Athletics Development Assistant
Job Titles:
- DEVELOPMENT
- Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Chief Development Officer / SWA
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Performance
Job Titles:
- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( Football, MTEN )
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Mission Integration
Job Titles:
- Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Head Coach / Co - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach
Job Titles:
- Director of Facilities and Operations
Job Titles:
- Inside Linebackers Coach ( Graduate Assistant )
Job Titles:
- EQUIPMENT
- Manager of Athletic Equipment Services
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Alex Funkhouser joined the USD men's tennis staff in August of 2022. He comes to USD from Cornell, and also spent time as the Lead Coach of the Collegiate Team for USTA Player Development.
"I am thrilled to welcome Alex to the Torero family," said head coach Ryan Keckley. "He has a fantastic reputation in the college coaching community, and I am excited to learn from him and witness his skillset take this team to the next level. Alex has a wealth of knowledge on the court, but more importantly, he has been a wonderful mentor for each player he has coached during his four years with the USTA and four additional years with Cornell University. We have been fortunate to have had talented coaches come through this program over the years, and I am excited to see how Alex will leave his mark this season and the seasons to come."
Funkhouser spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Cornell, helping the team to a 40-20 record in that span. Prior to Cornell, he was Lead Coach of the Collegiate Team for USTA Player Development in Orlando, FL, and coached ATP players Mackie McDonald, Chris Eubanks, and JC Aragone. He was also hitting partner for current WTA players Madison Keys and Cici Bellis. Prior to USTA Player Development, Funkhouser was High Performance Coach at Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, FL. While there, he coached top 100 ITF junior players, and was hitting partner for ATP players Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, Nick Kyrgios.
"I would like to begin by thanking head coach Ryan Keckley for offering me this tremendous opportunity," said Funkhouser. "I cannot begin to express my gratitude as well as my excitement to be a part of the USD Torero family. I truly believe that this is one of the most exciting programs in the country, and that is a testament to all family and friends of the program, past and present. I am really looking forward to building off of and reinforcing Ryan's vision for the program as well as the many great relationships that will be built along the way. I know this team is full of incredibly talented and quality young men, and I know I'm going to learn a lot from them all!"
Funkhouser played NCAA Division I tennis at Old Dominion University and Coastal Carolina University, and was nationally ranked in singles and doubles. He earned All-CAA conference honors in singles and doubles (2008, 2009) and All-Big South Conference honors in singles and doubles (2010, 2011).
A two-time WCC Coach of the Year and ITA regional assistant coach of the year, Keckley has been a part of seven NCAA Tournament teams in his 14 years as a collegiate tennis coach (13 full seasons). Seven of those have been with the Toreros.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Academic Services
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Development
Job Titles:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant Athletic Performance Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Compliance