2002 EAGLES

Jim Hartigan, 42, is 119-39-3 (.748) in his 14th season as the Eagles' varsity Head Coach. Overall, Coach Hartigan has a 135-42-4 (.757) record in 16 seasons if you include 10-0 and 6-3-1 lower level teams that he led in 1987 and 1988 respectively before the Eagles fielded varsity teams. He has won four League Championships and two CIF Titles in the past six years and has seen his team ranked as high as 12th in the nation (USA Today). Jim was honored as the both the 1996 and 1997 Daily Pilot Sea View League Coach of the Year, CIF-SS Division V Coach of the Year and the National Football Foundation Orange County Coach of the Year. Coach Hartigan has directed his squads into the playoffs in 12 of their 13 seasons, including seven in a row, and has never posted a losing season. He has coached eight High School All-Americans, 72 players who have gone on to play in the collegiate ranks and five who have gone on to the NFL. His 28-game winning streak from 1996-98 is the second best in Orange County history.

Coach Hartigan's squad finished the 2001 campaign with an 8-2-2 record and made an appearance in the CIF-SS Division I playoffs. Highlights included a another victory over Mater Dei. This victory marked the 2nd win over Mater Dei at the Varsity level and cleared the way for the Eagles to capture their 2nd ever Serra League Championship.

Coach Hartigan's squad finished the 2000 campaign with an 8-3 record and made an appearance in the CIF-SS Division I playoffs. Highlights included a 21-14 victory over perennial power Mater Dei. This victory marked the first win over Mater Dei at the Varsity level and cleared the way for the Eagles to capture their first ever Serra League Championship.

In 1996 & 1997, the Eagles won the CIF-SS Division V titles and Coach Hartigan was honored as the Daily pilot's Sea View League Coach of the Year and the National Football Foundation Orange County Coach of the Year. In 1998, Coach Hartigan led his team to a 10-4 record and an appearance in the CIF-SS Division VI title game. During that season he also saw his winning streak extended to 28 games.

Coach Hartigan's success can be seen off the field as well. He has been the key individual in building what has been recognized by college coaches as possibly the finest high school football facility in the nation. The 8,500 square foot weight room, team room and coaching complex is a reflection of his dedication to making the football program a first class operation. He is currently laying the foundation for his most ambitious project yet - a permanent 16,000 square foot state-of-the-art football complex and 6,000 seat on campus stadium. His guidance, leadership and commitment to academics are also evident as four of his 1997-1998 seniors qualified for National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Awards, and eleven of his former players have moved on to play at Ivy League Schools.

Coach Hartigan is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton where he played defensive back for Coach Gene Murphy. After graduation he returned to his alma mater, University High in Irvine, where he was a assistant for two seasons. He then moved on to Mater Dei where he coached under Chuck Gallo for three seasons. In 1987 he was selected by Founding Principal Michael Harris to be the first Head Coach of the Santa Margarita Eagles. After leading the Eagles through two seasons at the freshman and JV level, Coach Hartigan guided his initial varsity squad comprised of only Juniors and Sophomores to an 8-4 record and their first playoff appearance in 1989. The rest, they say is history.

James Michael Hartigan, 40, is a member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the National Football Foundation. He received his Masters Degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1993, and currently serves as the Department Head of the Physical Education Department. Coach Hartigan currently resides in Wagon Wheel Canyon with his wife Gina, daughter Gemma (3), sons Connor (2) & Tyler (1) along with his dogs Bear and Buddy.