Boys Basketball

Justin Williams-Bell - Head Coach - Varsity Basketball

Santa Margarita Catholic High School announces the hiring of Justin Williams-Bell as the head varsity boys basketball coach. Williams-Bell comes to Orange County after serving as the associate head men’s basketball coach at the University of California, Riverside as well as the interim head coach during the 2017-18 season. Prior to UCR, Williams-Bell was the associate head coach at Concordia University Irvine, where he helped lead the team to a NAIA national championship in 2011-12. He also served as an assistant boys basketball coach at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. from 2007-10. Coach Williams-Bell attended Escondido High School in San Diego County where he was a four-year, All-League basketball player. The former All-CIF guard received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Riverside, where he played for the UCR Highlanders, and a Master of Arts from Concordia University.

Terrence Worthy - Varsity Assistant, Camp Director

Terrence was a standout high school basketball player at Valley Christian High School in San Jose. He was a 4-year starter, where he received multiple All-League & All-State awards, as well as winning multiple league and CCS championships. Following the end of his High School career, he received an athletic scholarship to play for Ken Amman at Concordia University-Irvine. There, he became a 4-year starter, and graduated as one of the University's most decorated players in program & school history. He won an astounding 118 games, while only losing 23 contests. He was a 3-time All-league selection & achieved All-American status 3 consecutive years. After college, Terrence had a brief stint playing professionally in Europe before deciding to return stateside to pursue a more fulfilling career. After pursuing his higher education, and earning his Master's Degree in Education and teaching credential, Terrence became a middle school teacher and basketball coach. Eventually, his true passion for athletics and his ability to teach youth would steer him towards a career in both basketball training and coaching. In 2016, Terrence was honored by his alma mater, and was inducted into Concordia’s Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2017, he founded Meritorious Training, a youth basketball training company dedicated to providing youth-level players with high quality instruction that focuses on developing the athleticism, basketball IQ, and fundamental skills of each player.

Wolfie Wood - JV Head Coach, Varsity Assistant

Wolfie Wood is going into his second year on the SMCHS varsity coaching staff and first season as the JV Head Coach. During his first season at SMCHS the team ended the season with a record of 25-11 with notable wins over highly ranked schools such as Rancho Christian, Bishop Gorman, and Etiwanda, ultimately concluding the season with a CIF Division 1 Championship over Chino Hills. Prior to coaching, Coach Wood was a three-year varsity starter at Santa Margarita (2009-12) where he was named two-time All Trinity League, nominated All-State and top three in scoring in Orange County. He played collegiate basketball at La Sierra University and Cal Lutheran University where he was named to first team All Conference at both schools, named Conference Freshman of the Year, and apart of the 1000 career points club as well. He graduated from California Lutheran University in 2018 with a B.S. in Communications. He began his coaching career in 2017 as the associate head coach at Newbury Park High School and led them to their first post-season appearance since 2013, with a record of 20-6 in his first year of coaching.

Jarid Downey – Varsity Assistant Coach

Jarid Downey is Northwest native that played four years of varsity basketball. Coach Downey’s first year was at Heritage high school (2009) in Vancouver, WA where his team won their first district title in school history, then transferred to Timberline high school (2010–2012) in Boise, ID for his last 3 years as starter and two-time All SIC League member. Coach Downey played 2 years of college basketball. One year at Spokane Community College (2012-2013) under coach Jeremy Growth where the team took third place in the NWAC and then his last year at Walla Walla Community College (2015-2016) under Jeff Reinland. Coach Downey is currently a manager at the Ladera Sports Center in Ladera Ranch, CA, a basketball and volleyball training facility that hosts tournaments and home for AAU teams.

Marino Rocco DeFilippo, Jr. – Head Coach – Sophomores

Coach DeFilippo is in his seventh year on the Eagle Basketball Staff. He served as the Sophomore Head Coach in 2013-14, as a Varsity Assistant for Coach Reinert in 2014-15, and Freshman Head Coach from 2015-2017. This season, Coach DeFilippo will serve in his 5th year as the Director of Operations for Eagle Boys Basketball, and third year as Head Coach of the Sophomore team. He also serves as a full time substitute teacher at school. Coach DeFilippo was born and raised in Steelton, Pennsylvania, and is the son of a life-long teacher, coach, and athletic director, Marino, Sr. Coach DeFilippo was surrounded by basketball constantly while growing up, and built many meaningful relationships with players, coaches, and AD’s at both the high school and collegiate levels. Coach Rocco played for his father at Bishop McDevitt Catholic High School in Harrisburg, PA, and subsequently for David L. Maloney at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA where he was elected Captain in both his Junior and Senior seasons. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. Degree in Administration & Management Science and Psychology. Coach worked for 25 years at Pfizer Inc. in sales and sales management, during which time he was able to stay active in basketball as an official. He and his wife, Karen, are 25 year residents of Orange County and have two daughters, Jessica and Maria, who are very proud Eagle Alumni.

Ricardo Cuadra – JV Assistant Coach

Coach Cuadra graduated from UCLA with a major in History and Boston University with a Masters in Teaching Social Studies. He is a World History and Cultural Geography Model United Nations (MUN) teacher at SMCHS and has been an Assistant Coach for the Sophomore Team in the past. This year Coach Cuadra will be helping Coach Wood as Assistant Coach of the Junior Varsity Team. Coach Cuadra grew up playing competitive basketball and played IM basketball at UCLA and Boston University. Coach Cuadra has coached for the City of Santa Ana Youth Sports Programs for over 10 years. As a Catholic, Coach Cuadra would like to instill values beyond basketball to his players, such as humility. His philosophy on basketball is that it helps develop well-rounded individuals and he teaches cooperation, perseverance, hard work, dedication and personal responsibility. He’s a big believer in Coach John Wooden’s ‘Pyramid of Success’, where he stresses friendship, confidence, integrity, honesty and above all faith. Coach Cuadra looks forward to helping the players become successful both on and off the court.

Steve Averill - Head Coach - Freshman Gold

Steve Averill has built, directed and coached youth basketball leagues, middle school and high school teams locally in various capacities over the past 10 years. He played an instrumental role in the startup and development of 14-year NBA player and recent Big 3 MVP Corey Maggette’s Maggette Basketball, building the program from inception to serving over 200 families. Steve served as the Chief Marketing Officer while coaching and training players at all grade levels. Last season Steve was the Head Coach of the freshman Foothill High School basketball team that went 21-4 and undefeated in league play for the first time in 12 seasons. Steve currently coaches youth basketball at the club level for Team Create and serves as Clinic Director of Basketball for the Merage JCC of Orange County. He is the current coach of the 2017 gold medal winning U14 Maccabi Orange County team and former Head Coach of the Tarbut V Torah (TVT) Middle School program. He is a USA Basketball gold level certified coach and works with numerous middle school and high school players as a shooting instructor. Steve is a former board member of the Irvine Youth Basketball League, AVID Dollars for Scholars, Irvine Ranch Little League and serves as Vice President of the Woodbridge High School Boosters Club. Steve is married to Belinda Averill, principal of South Lake Middle School in Irvine. They have a daughter Olivia, 15 and a son, Toby, 13. Steve played college basketball and football at Bowdoin College, which U.S. News and World Report ranks as the #5 Liberal Arts college in the nation.

Art Meddaugh – Assistant Coach – Freshman Blue Assistant Coach

Coach Meddaugh is in his fourth year on the Eagle's Basketball Staff, and fifthteenth season coaching overall. He has served as an assistant on the Freshman and Sophomore levels, and last season helped guide the Freshman Gold to a Tournament Title and a Co-Trinity League Championship. Art really enjoys the family atmosphere at SM, and has seen a real improvement in player development over the past couple of years. Art has been a Head Coach on the NJB/All Net level, and an assistant, Co-Head, and Head Coach at the Sophomore level at Mater Dei. Art helped guide his MD teams to several Tournament Titles, Serra and Trinity League Championships, and in 2012-13 he directed his Monarchs to the Trinity League Title. Art has also worked as an assistant and Head Coach at the Freshman and Sophomore levels at Dana Hills. In 2014-15 Art guided his Sophomore squad to the South Coast League Title game and the best record in the basketball program. Art is originally from the Metro Detroit area, lived briefly in Naperville, Illinois, and then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where he played soccer, football, and basketball at Forest Hills. Art moved with his family to Mission Viejo, is a Capistrano Valley grad, and played football for the Cougars. Art earned his Associate of Arts Degree from Saddleback College and was accepted into Cal State Fullerton's Honors History program, but put his education on hold to work and raise his son Cody, now 26, in South Orange County. Art enjoys reading, trivia games, listening to music, and following his Detroit sports teams all year round.

Chuck Walker – Head Coach – Freshmen Blue

Coach Walker is in his fourth year on the Eagle Basketball Staff. He will continue to focus his time on the incoming Freshman. He received his B.A. in Business from Loyola Marymount University and his M.B.A from Pepperdine University. Coach has worked for over 30 years in executive leadership positions in the IT Consulting industry. During the coming season Coach Walker will also finish up his master’s in theological studies and be available to substitute teach. He was born in Salem, Ohio and played under legendary coach Jack Errion at Saint Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, California. Coach brings what he learned from Coach Errion to his teams today, they will be fundamentally sound, disciplined and will always respect the game, teammates and opponents. Prior to joining the staff at Santa Margarita, Chuck coached for over 30 years in the local youth sports scene. He coached travel basketball and soccer teams. Many of the kids Chuck has coached have gone on to excel at SMCHS, including Wolfie Wood, currently on the coaching staff. Although this is Chuck’s fourth year coaching at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, he has been involved with the school since 1992, watching his 6 children graduate. They were all active in SMCHS athletics; daughter Sarah, basketball and swimming; Melissa, soccer; Johnny, football and track, Jessi, basketball and track; Chris, basketball and soccer and Emily, volleyball.

Coach Dunklin - Freshman Gold Assistant Coach

Coach Dunklin will be going into his first season at Santa Margarita as the Freshman Gold Assistant Coach. Dunklin played at UCSB and started as a freshman. After his freshman season, he transferred to Saddleback Community College, where he led the team in assists and steals, along with capturing first team all conference. After Saddleback, Dunklin finished his career at San Diego Christian College. He led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals and was nominated as an NAIA All American. After college, Dunklin went to play two seasons professionally overseas in Italy, Germany, and Mexico.

Coach Gerardo - Assistant Coach Sophomores

Coach Gerardo currently works in the campus ministry office at SM as the Assistant Coordinator of Events and Retreats. Coach Gerardo grew up playing basketball and has been around the sport since he was a child. He played high school basketball for four years at Mater Dei High School and has coached at various levels. His favorite basketball team is the San Antonio Spurs and his favorite basketball player is Manu Ginobili.

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