Michael Luna - Head Coach / Infield/1B Coach
email: lunabaseball@yahoo.com
tel: 408-515-0007
Michael Luna is the Former Head Coach at San Benito High School. Coach Luna led his 2007 San Benito team to the CCS Division 1 Championship Finals. He is the only coach to lead to 2 high schools to the CCS Division 1 Finals. Coach Luna lead San Benito to 5 Championships and his teams won 147 games in 6 years. Coach Luna was voted Coach of the Year by Nor Cal Preps in 2007. Coach Luna coached Leigh High School for 5 years, his 2000 team won the CCS Division 1 Championship, and for this accomplishment he was voted CCS Coach of the Year. Coach Luna's Leigh teams won 102 games in his 5 years at the helm. Coach Luna also won a league championship at Overfelt High School in his second season in 1997. At 3 different High Schools Coach Michael Luna has been voted "Coach of the Year" 6 times for his outstanding guidance. Coach Luna also worked as an assistant coach at San Jose City College and at West Valley College with Coach Mike Perez, helping West Valley to a championship and 2 consecutive state play off appearances.
Mike Perez - Assistant Head Coach / Bench Coach
email: mike.perez@wvm.edu
tel: 408-855-5540
Mike Perez has been a head coach for 34 years with stops at Gavilan College, assistant at Santa Clara University and the head coach at West Valley College. West Valley College made 11 state play-off appearances. Mike's 501 victories include 11 conference championships. He achieved a rare feat of winning five consecutive championships from 1999 to 2003 at West Valley College. Most important is that in 18 years as the head coach at West Valley and Mission College, Mike sent 310 players on to four-year schools and 22 players signed professionally with Major League Baseball. In 2011 Coach Perez' first at Mission College all nine sophomores transferred to four year universities, eight on athletic scholarship.
Over his career at West Valley Coach Perez coached 26 "All-Americans", 9 conference MVP's, and 5 state "Players of the Year" award winners. Coach Perez has been named "Coach of the Year" 11 times.
As a Head Coach, Mike Perez continuously worked at building community relationships and proudly built his baseball program putting the students' athletes' academic standards first and foremost. He promotes athletics through strong academic progress and he can proudly stand behind his academic leadership during his at West Valley and Mission College. Mike served as the Athletic Director or assistant AD at West Valley College for 16 at West Valley College. Starting July 1, 2010 Mike became Mission Colleges Athletic Director.
Pitching Coach - David Newton: When head coach Mike Perez went looking for a pitching coach following the 2012 campaign, the answer to his search was David Newton, who is regarded as one of the best teachers of pitching skills by some of the most knowledgeable baseball people in the Bay Area. Coach Newton played at West Valley College for Coach Perez and signed professionally with the San Francisco Giants following his sophomore season. Newton is in his 4th season as an assistant coach after his pitching career ended with the Giants.
Outfield/1B Coach - Shorty Gutierrez: Head Coach Sobrato HS, 5 years Head Coaching experience. Shorty Gutierrez is a former Mission College student athlete. Coach Gutierrez is also a former assistant to Coach Luna at both Overfelt and Leigh High Schools. Coach Gutierrez built Sobrato High School in a Championship program as he guided Sobrato to their first championship in school history. Coach Shorty is an outstanding coach with great vision and expertise and is a tremendous addition to Mission College.
3B Coach - Frank Payton: Coach Payton was a member of the Mission State Championship in team in 1983. Payton has been coaching high school and college baseball for the past 28 years. Coach Payton recently lead the Los Gatos pony colt division to the 2011 and 2012 World Series Championship titles.
Hitting Coach -Josh Kreuzer: 2002 Community College "State Player of the Year," 2 time community college "All American." Josh played professional baseball with Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. Coach Kreuzer is a former Santa Clara Community College "Hot Stove Player of the Year" Coach Kreuzer was one of the best hitters to have played in the Santa Clara Valley and has developed into one of the finest hitting instructors in the our area. Josh is a graduate of Leigh High School class of 2000.
Sam Piraro: (Volunteer Coach) Coach Piraro retired as the winningest head baseball coach in San Jose State University history (806-632-6), completed his 25th season in 2012. Piraro is the only head coach to guide the Spartans to multiple NCAA Championship appearances, as well as, Western Athletic Conference pennants. His 784 victories are over 300 more than any other coach in San Jose State baseball history and more than 100 wins have come against nationally-ranked teams. In 1980, Piraro became the first baseball coach at Mission College in Santa Clara, Calif. In seven seasons, he compiled a 190-70 record, won five Coast Conference championships and two state titles (1981 and 1983).
Infield/1B Coach - Michael Luna
Bench Coach - Mike Perez
