Head Coach | Tim Walsh

Tim Walsh enters his first season as the Head Varsity Football Coach at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Coach Walsh was hired and introduced at a ceremonial announcement on January 16 by school President Andy Sulick. He comes to the Eagles, most recently, from Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, where he was the head coach for the past eight seasons.

From 1977 to 1980, Walsh was an assistant coach at his alma mater Junipero Serra High School (San Mateo). He then was head coach at Moreau Catholic High School (Hayward) from 1981 to 1985. In 1986, Walsh moved up to the college level as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Santa Clara University. Walsh then left for Sonoma State University (SSU).

After two seasons as offensive coordinator, Walsh became head coach at SSU in 1989. A charismatic speaker and motivator, Walsh guided Sonoma State to three winning seasons in four years at the helm of the then Cossacks. He also led Sonoma State to the Northern California Athletic Conference title in 1991, ending UC Davis’ streak of 20-consecutive conference titles), and a pair of NCAA Division II playoff berths.

Walsh was then the head coach at Portland State University from 1993 through 2006. In his 14 years at Portland State, Walsh compiled a 90-68 (.570) record and guided the Vikings from a Division II program to a Division I-AA contender. Walsh’s tenure at Portland State was the longest of any previous Portland State football head coach. The Vikings made the Division II playoffs in 1993, 1994, and 1995, and the I-AA playoffs in 2000. In February, 2007, Walsh left Portland State to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Army (West Point) under Stan Brock. Army went 3-9 in Walsh’s two seasons, 2007 and 2008.

Walsh became a head coach again on in January, 2009, when Cal Poly hired him. He became named Cal Poly’s sixteenth head football coach. After guiding the Mustangs to a 4-7 mark in his first campaign, Walsh turned the program around with three consecutive winning seasons (7-4, 6-5, 9-3), a Great West Conference title in 2011 and, in his fourth year at the helm of the Mustangs, a share of the Big Sky Conference crown and an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth in 2012. Cal Poly returned to the FCS playoffs in 2016, as they posted a 7-5 overall mark and finished fourth in the Big Sky. The Mustangs won four of their last six games in 2018 to finish 5-6. In his final campaign, 2019, Cal Poly went 3-8. Overall, Cal Poly was 32-34 in Walsh’s eight seasons in the Big Sky and 59-56 (.513) overall.

Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line | Tim Holt

Coach Holt has been named Offensive Coordinator at Santa Margarita, Head Coach Brent Vieselmeyer announced Thursday, Holt comes to SMCHS from the National Football League where he worked with Vieselmeyer at the Oakland Raiders. He will coach the Eagles offensive line. Under Holt’s tutelage, the Raiders offensive line proved stout, ranking first in the league at protecting the quarterback, allowing just 18 sacks on the year in 2016. The offensive unit ranked near the top of the league in 2016, finishing sixth in the NFL in yards per game (373.3), sixth in rushing yards per game (120.1) and seventh in points per game (26.0). The offensive line saw three members selected to the Pro Bowl as C Rodney Hudson, G/T Kelechi Osemele and T Donald Penn were all named to annual all-star game. Osemele, in his first year with the Silver and Black after signing as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, also earned his first career All-Pro selection. Hudson and Penn were additionally named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-AFC Team and Osemele to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-NFL Team. In 2015, his first season with the Raiders, Holt helped guide an exceptional offensive line that gave up just 33 sacks on the year, tied for 11th fewest in the league. The Raiders’ offensive line did not allow a sack in three games and held opponents to two sacks or less in 10 games. Behind the line, QB Derek Carr completed 350 passes for 3,987 yards with 32 touchdowns, all career highs. The line paved the way for RB Latavius Murray to surpass 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career, making him the first Raider to do so since 2010. In total, four offensive players earned Pro Bowl nods (Carr, Murray, WR Amari Cooper and FB Marcel Reece).

Holt was named the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Stetson in 2014 after coaching the line for the Chicago Bears in 2012.. His line helped RB Matt Forte eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career.

Prior to joining the Bears, Holt spent three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an offensive assistant (2009) and assistant offensive line coach (2010-11). He helped improve the Buccaneers’ offense to 20th in the league in scoring in 2010 after the team ranked 30th the previous season. In his final two years with the Bucs, the team’s offensive line paved the way for the rushing attack to average 4.5 rushing yards per carry, seventh best in the NFL. While with Tampa Bay, Holt helped current Raider Penn to a Pro Bowl selection in 2010.

Holt spent 14 years coaching at the collegiate level before breaking into the professional ranks, including a one-year stint at Stonehill College (2008) as the offensive line coach/run game coordinator. Holt spent four years at his alma mater, Division II Southern Connecticut State, from 2004-07, where he worked with offensive line before coaching the running backs. Prior to returning to Southern Connecticut State, Holt was the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at American International from 2001-03. Holt began his coaching career at Southern Connecticut State as a graduate assistant from 1995-96, where he worked primarily with the tight ends and offensive line. He spent the next two years at Lehigh (1997-98) working with the tight ends and offensive line and had a stint at Cornell (1999-2000) as the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach and then as the running backs coach.

A native of Dighton, Mass, Holt was a three-year letterman in four seasons (1991- 94) as an offensive lineman at Southern Connecticut State and helped the school to six-win seasons in his first two years. Holt and his wife, Bridget, have four daughters: Madailein, Cailin, Aislinn and Tegwyn.

Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks | Jeff Love

Coach Love joins the Eagles following a three year stint at the University of Kansas, where he worked alongside Vieselmeyer. “My family and I are grateful and thankful for the opportunity to work with the high caliber people at Santa Margarita Catholic. I am anxious to begin training and developing our student-athletes, on and off the field”. Love will also coach the programs quarterbacks. Most recently, in the fall of 2018, after two and a half seasons as the Jayhawks’ Director of Football Technology, Love became the first video director in college football history to be promoted to assistant coach at mid-season when he was elevated to train the Kansas quarterbacks and call the plays. In Love’s second game directing the Kansas offense, the Jayhawks defeated TCU 27-26. The win marked the first Kansas victory in the month of October since 2009 and the first Big XII victory since November of 2016. The Jayhawks converted on 10 of 17 third downs versus the Horned Frogs and quarterback Peyton Bender completed 19 of 29 passes for 249 yards, with 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. For his efforts, Bender was named Pro Football Focus’s Big XII Quarterback of the week. A few weeks later, in Norman against College Football Playoff contender Oklahoma, the Jayhawk attack would amass 524 yards of total offense and 40 points. Freshman running back Pooka Williams Jr. rushed for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 15 carries against the Sooners en route to Big XII player of the week honors. The 40 points were the most points scored in Big XII play by a Kansas team in over 6 years.

Under Love’s guidance, the 2018 Kansas quarterbacks threw only 4 interceptions in 392 pass attempts during their 12 games. That statistic ranked 3rd in the nation, trailing only triple-option teams Georgia Southern and Army. Prior to his promotion to assistant coach, Love served as the program’s Director of Football Technology, where, in 2017 as part of a multi-million-dollar facilities project, Love oversaw the implementation of seamless, LED video boards inside the Jayhawk locker-room; the first project of its kind in college football. Before Kansas, Love served as an assistant coach at Houston Baptist University. Love was a member of the inaugural staff that was tasked with building the Southland Conference, Division 1 program from inception. He would coach three positions; the safeties in (2012), wide receivers (2013-2015) and the quarterbacks (2016). He mentored wide receiver Ethan Fry, who would go on to be the leading receiver in HBU history.

Love arrived at HBU from Occidental College in Los Angeles where he coached the secondary. In just 9 games, the Tigers led the SCIAC in turnovers created (27), interceptions (15), Red Zone interceptions (6), fumbles recovered (12), & fewest TDs allowed (11). Under Love's guidance, defensive back Ayrton Bates led the Tiger defense with 55 Tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and was a unanimous 1st-team, all-conference selection.

Wide Receivers - Sean Embree

Sean Embree is an outstanding football coach on the rise. Sean’s 24 years of coaching experience, includes coaching at the high school, college, and professional levels. Sean’s high school coaching career includes Boulder, Fairview, J.K.E Mullen and most recently, the Offensive Coordinator for Santa Margarita Catholic of the Trinity League. At the collegiate level Seancoached at Harper Junior College, Butler University and at the professional level, Sean interned/coached with the Denver Broncos, and in Central Europe for Vukovi Beograd and the Serbian National team.

As Head Coach for both European teams, Sean compiled a spectacular record of 52-3 (97%), winning four championships, and most significantly, winning the one and only European Cup for Serbia.

In total games as a coach and player, Sean has amassed a record of 270 wins and only 51 losses. As a player at Colorado, Sean was a three year starter at Tight End winning three consecutive BIG 8 titles and one National Championship. Sean’s knowledge of the game comes from a long history of connecting with successful programs and building relationships with coaches – including Bill McCartney, Gary Kubiak, Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan, Eric Bienemy, Jon Embree (brother) and John Pagano.

In addition, Sean has a deep football bloodline. His father played in the NFL/AFL for ten years. His brother played Division I football, played in the NFL, head coached Division I football (Colorado), and currently coaches in the NFL (49ers). His nephews played Division I football (UCLA/Kansas), and one is now coaching in the NFL (Chiefs) as well and the other is a member of the University of Colorado football staff.

Running Backs | Bob Carskie

Coach Bob Carskie comes to Santa Margarita with 40 years of coaching experience, including 14 years as a head high school coach and 10 years in the Division One college ranks. As a college coach, Carskie worked under Barry Alvarez at the University of Wisconsin and Howard Schnellenberger at the University of Louisville. While coaching at Louisville, they went on to win the 1993 Liberty Bowl championship. From 1994 to 2000 Carskie was the Director of Football Operations at Iowa State. During his tenure at Iowa State, Carskie headed up the recruiting process for the Cyclones including former NFL player Reggie Hayward. In 1985 Carskie served as the head coach at Archbishop Weber High School making appearances in the 1985 Chicago Catholic League playoffs and the 1988 Illinois State playoffs. Most recently, Bob was the head coach at both Boulder and Centaurus high school in Colorado. Carskie was honored as the Boulder Valley Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2015.

Bob began his coaching career at Gordon Tech HS as an assistant coach where they won the 1980 Illinois 6A State Championship. They also won the 1982 Chicago Prep Bowl Championship. In 2002, Coach Carskie was inducted in the Gordon Tech Hall of Fame at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. A 1975 graduate of Missouri Valley College, with a bachelor’s degree in in physical education, Carskie was the starting Tight End for the Vikings in 1974 helping lead the Vikings to a berth in the NAIA National Championship game. Carskie also holds a master’s degree in education and administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bob Carskie has two children Samantha and David. Samantha a graduate of Colorado State University, is the Literacy Curriculum Specialist for PEARSON. David a graduate of the University of Colorado, is currently the tight ends coach at Puget Sound University in Tacoma, Washington.

Linebackers | Anthony Rouzier

Anthony Rouzier comes to Santa Margarita Catholic High School from the Hamburg Huskies of the German Football League, where he was the interim Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator in 2017. For the end of the season’s success, Rouzier was promoted and accepted the Head Coaching position. Rouzier was also the Defensive Coordinator for the U17 Hamburg State All-Star team, and worked with a recruiting service that helped European prospects earn Division 1 college scholarships.

Prior to Germany, Rouzier was a graduate assistant at his Alma Mater, the University of Massachusetts. He worked with the Defensive Backs in 2015 and the Linebackers in 2016. Rouzier coached the Outside Linebackers at Winston Salem State University in the spring of 2015. In 2014, Rouzier coached at Amherst Regional High School where he started as the Linebacker’s coach and was promoted to Defensive Coordinator mid-season. Rouzier played at UConn in 2005, he was the first walk-on true freshman to start in the Division era of the school. He then transferred to UMass as a scholarship athlete, and was a part of two Conference Championships. He earned All-Academic All-Conference honors in 2007 & 2008. Rouzier married his wife Elwira in 2018. He holds JD and MBA degrees from FIU, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from UMass. He is the co-creator of a children’s book and non-profit that promotes health and wellness.

Special Teams Coordinator | John Byszewski

John Byszewski begins his 17^th year at Santa Margarita this season. Coach Byszewski is a member of Santa Margarita’s Charter Class of 1991. He played football for Saddleback College winning a National Championship and went on to earn a football scholarship to Western State College in Colorado where he played Center for their football team and finished with a business degree. After college, John returned to SM to coach, starting with freshman and eventually coaching all levels and defensive positions. Coach Byszewski also works in the Athletic Department at Santa Margarita which keeps him involved with all of SM’s student athletes. John and his wife, Becky, have three children, John (15), Jane (13) and Ben (9) and live in Mission Viejo.

Cornerbacks | Corey Overton

Coach Overton is a graduate of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. At St. Ambrose, Coach Overton played cornerback played a key role in the nation’s #2 pass defense where he was named First Team All- Conference and an NAIA All-American game participant. Furthermore, at St. Ambrose, Coach Overton was part of an undefeated regular season (2006) team later to be ranked #3 in the nation. Additionally, Corey holds the position of Assistant Principal, Students Services at St. Junipero Serra Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Overton received his undergraduate degrees in Kinesiology in 2008 and Physical Education Teaching in 2010 from St. Ambrose University. In addition, Overton recently received his graduate degree in education from Loyola Marymount in 2016.

• 2012 | Max Tuerk | US Army All-American

The 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Tour visited Santa Margarita Catholic High School on Tuesday, October 27, to name quarterback KJ Costello and receiver Dylan Crawford to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Costello and Crawford become the second and third Eagles to be named to the U.S. Army All-American team. Max Tuerk ’12 was the first U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection in the history of our school. Santa Margarita honored Costello and Crawford before his teammates, media, fans and family during a jersey presentation on the Santa Margarita campus. Head Coach Rick Curtis was excited for both of his players to have received this honor.

• 2017 | Brett Neilon | US Army All-American

Brett Neilon of Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, has been nominated to play in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Those nominated may be selected and have the opportunity to showcase their talents on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, in the annual East vs. West match-up, televised live on NBC at 1:00 PM EST. Neilon (6'02", 275lb), a dual sport athlete for the Eagles (Football/Track), is just the fourth Eagle football player to be selected to play in this prestigious high school bowl game, following Max Tuerk ’12, KJ Costello and Dylan Crawford ’16.

• 2017 | Grant Calcaterra | US Under Armour All-American