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Our Coaches

Del Norte Football Coaching Staff

Nicholas Barnett

Head Coach

About Coach Nicholas Barnett

As a former NFL player with 11 years of experience, coach Barnett has been part of some of the greatest football teams in NFL history. Prior to being drafted in the first round of 2003, he was a part of a successful turnaround at Oregon State University, where they accomplished the first winning season in 29 years.

In more recent years, coach Barnett participated in an internship program thru the NFL in 2018 where he worked with former Green Bay Packer head coach Mike McCarthy.

Since that time coach Barnett has focused on youth programs, including the last two years coaching Pop Warner with LCCPW. Last year was his first year as the Head Coach for the 14U team, winning the WCC championship. 

He was a LB position coach at La costa canyon High school for JV and Varsity in 2022. He is a high energy coach that demands kids reach their potential doing it the right way and is very excited to take over as the head coach of the growing Del Norte program.


Legedu Naanee

Varsity / JV Offensive Coordinator

About Coach Legedu Naanee

Legedu is a former NFL wide receiver who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Chargers, Panthers, and Dolphins during his NFL career. He played his college football for the Boise State University Broncos.
Coach Naanee and his family have called our community home since 2018 and is excited to coach our Del Norte Nighthawks this season.

Marvin Jackson

Varsity/JV Special Teams & DB Coach

ABOUT COACH JACKSON

Coach Jackson is in his second full season in his return to Del Norte having previously coached during the 2012-2013 season. He has 8 years of coaching experience including a Class B State Championship in 2011 with Wells High School in Wells, ME. He played semi-professional football in the New England Football League earning an All-Star team selection and winning a league championship in two seasons. Marvin is a retired Navy veteran serving 22 years as a Submarine Navigation Electronics Technician.

Rudy Betancourt

Varsity / JV OL Coach

ABOUT COACH BETANCOURT

Coach Rudy Betancourt is entering his 26th season coaching football and has held various coaching positions from Youth to the High School level.
He played high school football at Oceanside High School, finishing with a CIF Championship in 1995 before going on to play OL at Palomar Community College. Coach Rudy is a co-owner of Prime Time Linemen a training business teaching OL/DL techniques to athletes throughout the north San Diego county.

Matt Rochelle

Varsity / JV Running Backs Coach

ABOUT COACH ROCHELLE

Matt Rochelle grew up in San Diego and attended Mt. Carmel High School. He played collegiate football at both the D1AA and D2 levels. He was a hybrid slot receiver/running back.
Matt received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Ocean Sciences from the University of San Diego and his Master of Science in Geographic Information Science and Technologies from the University of Southern California. He also is a certified ISSA trainer working with the local youth and adults at WayaLife performance during his free time. He is currently working as an Engineer professionally.
With his playing experience, love of the game, and passion for helping the youth, he enjoys providing training resources that he didn’t have access to at a young age. He says “It is the best feeling seeing the youth work and succeed toward their athletic dreams”. He says coaching allows him to stay active, healthy, and competitive.


Sebastian Smith

Varsity / JV Receivers Coach

ABOUT COACH SMITH

Coach Sebastian is a San Diego native who played football at Boise State University.  Since 2015 he has helped develop players at the collegiate and professional level.  He is excited to be with the Nighthawks in his first season.
 
 
 

Keith Karden

Varsity DL & JV Head Coach

ABOUT COACH CARDEN

This is coach Carden’s tenth year coaching football starting his coaching career in Mountain View, CA before moving to San Diego and coaching one year of Pop Warner for the Rancho Bernardo Broncos. Coach Carden played his football in Illinois. Keith also currently coaches travel softball for The Factory and spent the last four years coaching for the nationally top-ranked EC Bullets organization. Coach Cardenhas also coached youth baseball, basketball, wrestling, and soccer.

Jose Rubio

Freshman WR Coach

ABOUT COACH RUBIO

Coach Rubio has been coaching both youth football and basketball for 18 years. He lives in Del Sur with his wife Ana and three children. He played Wide Receiver and ran track at La Jolla High School. Coach Rubio graduated from UCSD’s Jacob School of Engineering with a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. He is in his first year coaching with the Nighthawks.
 
 
 
 

Ernest Webb

Freshman Special Teams / Defensive Backs Coach

ABOUT COACH WEBB

I was born and raised in San Diego. I have 4 children and have been married to my wife, Aurea, for 19 years. I enjoy coaching football because it teaches many life lessons such as teamwork, commitment, and a strong work ethic. I also played football at the high school level. For the past 8 years, I have coached youth sports, including basketball, flag, and Pop Warner football. I have also been an equipment manager and board member at the pop Warner level for 3 years. I approach life and sports with the belief that success is earned, not given, and I hope that our young athletes can also value hard work. I am very excited to be coaching at Del Norte High School for my second season and be a part of our young men’s athletic journey

Lewis Beans

Freshman Linebackers Coach

ABOUT COACH BEANS

Coach Beans is in his second season with DNHS as the Freshman Defensive Coordinator/linebacker coach. He served in the U.S. Navy and retired after 24 years of service. He has over seven years of coaching experience with youth sports emphasizing discipline, effort, hard work, and teamwork.

Paul Schneider

Varsity Defensive Coordinator / Safeties Coach

About Coach Schneider

Coach Schneider is in his 4th full season with Del Norte after arriving to the program ahead of the short Spring season.  He has 20+ years of coaching experience including a state championship with Rancho Bernardo.  Coach Schneider lives in 4S Ranch with his wife and 4 kids.  He played defensive back at the University of Wisconsin and earned a law degree from Duke University.

Ryan Jones

Varsity / JV Quarterback Coach

ABOUT COACH JONES

Coach Jones is in his first year at Del Norte.  He has been coaching Pop Warner at LCCPW for the past 5 years. He spent the past three years as a head coach and offensive coordinator. Coach Jones played QB at the University of Washington from 2001-04, playing under head coaches Rick Neuheisel and Keith Gilbertson.  He trains quarterbacks and is a great resource not only for coaching our high school team’s, but also starting and maintaining our youth programs.

Marcus Betancourt

Varsity / JV OL Coach

ABOUT COACH BETANCOURT

Coach Marcus Betancourt is entering his 4th season of coaching OL and DL. He played locally at San Marcos High School and is also the co-owner of Prime Time Linemen, a sports training business that teaches OL/DL techniques to athletes in the North San Diego County.
 
 

Eric Olsen

Varsity / JV Receiver Coach

ABOUT COACH OLSEN

Eric is in his third season coaching the Nighthawks receivers. At San Pasqual High School (1986-1990), Coach Olsen was All-Conference and All-State in Football and Track. 
He played football at Colorado State University (1990-1995), where he led the team in all receiving categories and was in the top ten in the country in receiving helping lead the Rams to a #10 final ranking which was as high as #6 in the country his senior year. 
Eric was elected to both the San Pasqual and Colorado State Hall of Fame’s for his athletic achievements. Eric has lived in Rancho Bernardo for 26 years as the owner of Novamac Funding, a private mortgage bank.
 
 
 
 

Jimmy Sanft

Varsity Linebackers Coach & JV Defensive Coordinator

ABOUT COACH SANFT

Coach Sanft is in his third year at Del Norte. Coach Sanft was an all-league linebacker at San Marcos High School and was voted to the All-North County Team. Coach Sanft played collegiately at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, where he received a B.A. Coach Sanft received a J.D. from CaliforniaWestern School of Law. Coach Sanft loves long walks on the beach, eating spam musubi, and taking naps

Johnny Segovia

Freshman Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator

ABOUT COACH SEGOVIA

Coach Segovia has been coaching with DNHS for four seasons. He has coached and instructed at DelNorte High School’s Summer Football camp and 7-on-7 tournaments. He has previously coached Del Norte High School’s JV team as Offensive Coordinator and served as Running Backs Coach.Coach Segovia is also a teacher at DNHS teaching Social Science for 8 years. Coach Segovia coaches with an emphasis on fundamentals, effort, and attitude  

Peter Orona

Freshman OL / DL and Asst. Strength Coach

ABOUT COACH ORONA

Coach Pete is in his first year with Del Norte High School. He is a former 2 sport high school athlete who possesses over 10 plus years of coaching experience. An alumni of San Diego State University, who is a certified NFHS Coach & NASM-CPT.He has worked with several NFL play 360 leagues around the county and volunteered at many local youth football camps. He strives to positively impact each and every youth athlete he comes across, in order to make sure they become the best student-athlete they can possibly be. “Success isn’t owned, it’s leased. And rent is due every day.”J.J. Watt


Rob Cohen

Freshman Defensive Coordinator

ABOUT COACH COHEN

Coach Cohen is in his first year coaching our Nighthawks freshman. He grew up in North County San Diego, where he played youth sports. He graduated from San Dieguito High School where he played soccer and football. Coach Cohen graduated from San Jose State University and lives in La Costa with his wife and two sons. Before joining the Nighthawks, he coached youth football and baseball and has coached at the high school football in the past. He is excited to join Nighthawk Nation this season