Ryan Crane - Girls' Head Coach & Hurdles (949-280-9253)
Ryan competed on the DHHS track team for four years. He held the 400 meter record of 48.42 for 12 years until it was broken in 2006 by Cade Lindahl, an athlete that Coach Crane was fortunate enough to have coached. Cade Lindahl's new school record is also an Orange County Meet Record, 47.80.
Coach Crane ran for Saddleback College, but was forced out of competition due to injuries. Today, he uses his knowledge and experience to help others find success, both on the track and off.
Coach Crane has coached track at DHHS for 12 years and girls frosh/soph cross country for ten.
Coach Crane was the boys' head coach at DHHS from 2005-2006 and has been the girls' head coach since 2007. Coach Crane has been a vital part of the success at DHHS from his years as an athlete to today, as the girls' head coach. Coach Crane was named the Orange County Track and Field "Coach of the Year" in 2009.
Craig Dunn - Boys' Head Coach (949-489-3447)
Coach Dunn is starting his 13th season coaching Track and Field at DHHS. This will be his 6th year as the Boys' Head Coach. In the Fall, Coach Dunn helps coach the Boys' Cross Country Team. Coach Dunn was named the Orange County Track and Field "Coach of the Year" two years in a row ('08 & '09). He has lead his team to 4 consecutive Orange County Championships (the only team to do so in OC history!). In 2010 his team placed 5th at Nike Nationals and 10th in 2011!
Coach Dunn is an Alumni of DHHS, and he ran for Coach Butler in the early 1990's. Coach Dunn teaches physical education at Dana, and in the summer Coach Dunn operates his summer camp, Hobbledehoy, with Coach Crane. Coach Dunn has two children, Cody and Riley, and is married to the pole vault coach, Julie Dunn.
Tim Butler - Boys Distance (949-246-7170)
Coach Butler is on his 39th year as a Cross Country and Track Coach at DHHS. He was also the Boys Head Soccer Coach in 1976, 1977, & 1988. Coach Butler is a very established and successful coach, having coached multiple athletes that have had success at the State and National level. He has had 32 consecutive post season appearances coached 19 League Titles, 5 CIF Titles, and 4 State Titles in Cross Country, as well as 1 Soccer League Championship.
Coach Butler has coached every Track & Field school record holder in the boys distances. Coach Butler was named the Orange County Cross Country "Coach of the Year" in '87, '88, '01, '03, '07, '08, and '09. He was also named the California State Cross Country "Coach of the Year" in 2009!
Rex Hall - Girls Distance (949-291-1963)
Rex is a 30 year retired Fire Fighter/Captain for the city of Anaheim. He competed in Masters and Fire Fighter competition through his mid 40's.
Rex has over 45 years in the running community coaching at Damian High School, Ocean View High School, Newport Harbor, and 15 years at Dana Hills High School. He has been the girls Cross Country coach for the past 8 years. In 2009, Rex coached the girls to a Div. 1 State Title and was named the Orange County Cross Country "Coach of the Year." He has coached 8 consecutive league CC championships, and has coached the athletes who hold all of our individual and school records in the distance events.
Vern McGarry - High Jump (949-683-6728)
Since 1975, Vern has coached various athletes in the California Police Olympics. He coaches Masters athletes in javelin, high jump, hammer, and discus. Vern is entering his 12th season as the high jump coach at Dana Hills. Vern's high jumpers have won a league championship 16 times and earned 49 South Coast League medals in the previous 10 years. His high jumpers won three of the four divisions and 10 medals total at last year's league finals.
Vern is a retired San Clemente police officer. He has competed in the California Police Olympics since 1975 and Masters Track & Field since 1996. Vern has won more than 90 medals in track and field. His favorite hobby is skydiving and has over 900 jumps.
Darren Phelps - Jumps (949-235-5968)
Coach Phelps has been coaching Track & Field for over 20 years and is entering his 10th year coaching the Long and Triple Jumpers at Dana Hills. Coach Phelps' jumpers have set new school records in all levels in the long jump and triple jump. He is also the founder of South Orange County Wildcats - a USA Track & Field (USATF) sanctioned club that works with beginning athletes through the elite.
Julie Dunn - Pole Vault (949-489-3447)
This is Julie's 9th season coaching the pole vaulters at Dana has also helped coach the girls' cross country team. She is married to head coach, Craig Dunn and has two children, Cody and Riley.
Julie competed in track & field at Grossmont High School in San Diego and at San Diego State University. She has a personal best of 12'0" in the pole vault.
She is also in charge of this website, please email her at juliedunn13@yahoo.com with any comments or errors.
Steve Horrell - Pole Vault
Steve competed for Dana Hills in high school and is still currently the boys' pole vault record holder, at 15'2". He competed for four years at UC Santa Barbara and has been coaching the vaulters at Dana for the 3 years.
Doug "Bubba" Sparks - Pole Vault (www.bubbapv.com)
We are very pleased to welcome a new and highly experienced coach to our pole vault staff this year. Bubba has been vaulting since 1972 with an impressive PR of 18'1". He vaulted at Southwest Texas State where he was a five time All American and three time National Champion. In 1976 Bubba qualified for the Olympic Trials. He continues to vault as a Masters athlete and has many remarkable accomplishments, including 3 USATF National Masters Championships and was the 2009 World Champion in the World Masters Games in Sydney, Australia - just to name a few!
Bubba has been coaching since his college years and has coached athletes from the high school level through Olympians. He is a USATF Level 1 Certificated Instructor and has held many clinics and camps. Bubba was a volunteer assistant coach at UCI from 1988-2001 and in 1996 he was a selected coach for the Olympic Games!
Jim Copp - Throws (949-279-0749)
Jim has been coaching for over 30 years, including 12 years at Upland High School in Wrestling and Baseball, and 18 years of coaching his daughters in Club Softball and Soccer. He has also helped out with the Dana Hills Cross Country team for the past 11 years. This is his 5th year with the Dana Hills Throwers.
Marni Cota - Distance and Team PT
Stephen Esslinger - Girls Distance
Chase Carnahan - Throws
Chris Cota - Girls Distance
Monika Rothenburger - Girls Distance
Ryan Shlax - Throws
Mike Gazsi - Throws
.
