Head Coach Ron Ponciano
Coach Ponciano is in his third year as the head coach, and his seventh year with the team, serving as the defensive coordinator the four seasons prior to taking over the helm of the Fighting Owls. Coach Ponciano brings 27 years of experience to the Citrus College staff.
Coach Ponciano came to Citrus after being the Head football coach at L.A. Valley College for four years. Ponciano has also served as the head coach at California State University, Northridge, and interim head coach at Shasta Community College. Ponciano has served as the defensive coordinator at McPherson College, San Jose State, California State University Nothridge, and Azusa Pacific University . He has been responsible for creating some of the top defenses in the nation at every level he has coached.
Coach Ponciano was also a Graduate Assistant at University of Southern California, Los Angeles. While working at USC the Trojans won back to back Pac 10 championships. Ron and wife Lisa reside in Alta Loma with their son Chad.
Offensive Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Ben Noonan
Coach Ben Noonan begins his third season as the Citrus College Offensive Coordinator. Noonan came to the Fighting Owls fresh off a coaching gig at NCAA Division I Alabama State University (2008). While with the Hornets, Noonan served as the Offensive Coordinator.
Since taking over as the Offensive Coordinator for the Fighting Owls, Noonan has steered his quarterbacks into the Citrus record books. Noonan's QB's hold records for yards, completions, and touchdowns. In addition, under the guidance of Noonan, numerous offensive players have matriculated to four year universities, including four offensive lineman from the 2010 squad who all ended up at BCS Conference Schools.
Prior to Alabama State, Noonan coached at another DI school, Baylor University (2007-2008). While with the Bears, Noonan served as a graduate assistant quarterbacks coach, helping guide quarterback Blake Szymanski into the Baylor record books.
Noonan’s coaching career began at the community college level, when he served as the defensive backs’ coach at Mendocino College (2000-2002) in Ukiah, California. As a member of the Eagle staff, Noonan served as the team’s passing-game coordinator.
After Mendocino, Noonan moved onto Texas A & M University Kingsville (2002-2005), a member of the NCAA Division II. There, Noonan served as the wide-receivers coach, coaching two Lone-Star Conference Wide Receivers of the Year and recruiting the back to back Lone-Star Conference Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
From there, Noonan accepted a position at West Texas A & M University (2005-2007), serving as the team’s co-offensive coordinator. As the team’s offensive coordinator, Noonan helped lead the Buffs to the 2nd ranked passing game in the nation and the 14th ranked total offense in the nation. West Texas A & M also won back to back conference titles with Noonan playing a pivotal role.
Noonan resides with his wife Joanna and son Ben Jr. in Rancho Cucamonga.
Director of Football Operations and Receivers Coach Peter Lofthouse
Coach Peter Lofthouse begins his third season with the Fighting Owls, and will serve as the inside receivers coach. Lofthouse comes to Citrus after serving as the Offensive Graduate Assistant at Baylor University for two seasons and a season as the wide receivers coach at Texas Lutheran University.
A stand-out wide receiver and tight end at El Toro High School, Lofhouse lettered in both football and baseball. Lofthouse went on to graduate from Arizona State University with a Business Administration degree in 2004, and then got his Masters in Education from Baylor University in 2008.
Defensive Coordinator Eduardo Pacheco
Coach Eduardo Pacheco begins his fourth season with the Fighting Owls staff, and his first as the Citrus Defensive Coordinator. In his time with the Fighting Owls, Pacheco has coached four All-Conference Defensive Linemen.
Prior to Citrus, Pacheco spent one season as the Assistant Defensive Coordinator at Glen A. Wilson High Schools, where he helped lead the Wildcats to the second round of the playoffs. Before Wilson, Pacheco spent four seasons on the sidelines of his alma mater Etiwanda High School serving as the J.V. Head Coach and Varsity Defensive Line Coach.
As a player, Pacheco prepped four varsity seasons for the Eagles, earning All-League honors and helping Etiwanda to two different league championship seasons. Pacheco also served as the Team Captain and was named the Lineman MVP.
Pacheco resides in Monrovia.
Offensive Line Coach Steve Randall
Coach Steve Randall begins his first season with the Fighting Owls and will coach the Citrus offensive line. Randall comes to Citrus after spending the last 26 years in the high school game, including 14 years as a successful local Head Coach.
Randall spent the last five seasons as the head man over at Ontario high School. Prior to that Randall served as the Head Coach at Duarte High School from 2000-2003 and from 1996-1999 as the Head Coach at Whittier Christian High School. In his 26 years, Randall has been a part of three CIF Championship teams, two as an assistant (1990, 2004) and one at the helm of Duarte (2003).
Before entering the coaching game, Randall was a successful high school player at Pioneer High School. Randall prepped four varsity seasons earning All-League honors and cracking the Top 20 in receiving yards in Los Angeles County as a tight end during his senior campaign.
Randall holds a degree in English Education and Speech Communication from California State University, Long Beach, and teaches English full-time at Ontario High School. Randall is married to his wife Joanna, and has two daughters (Sara and Janae) and a son Justin, who will be suiting up for Citrus in the Fall of 2011.
Running Backs Coach Cordell Landers
Coach Cordell Landers begins his first season with the Fighting Owls and will work primarily with the running backs. Coach Landers comes to Citrus as a former player of Head Coach Ron Ponciano at LA Valley College. Landers played two seasons for the Monarchs before transferring to Illinois State where he played for two seasons.
Landers was a successful high school player at Long Beach Jordan High School. He prepped four varsity seasons, earning All-Moore League honors and Team Offensive Player of the Year.
After his playing career ended, Landers began his coaching career with the B2G Elite Football Camps. Landers coached with the popular camp for six seasons, earning Coaching MVP Honors at five of the six camps.
Coach Landers resides Baldwin Hills with his wife Selena and their daughter Sydney.
Safeties Coach Reggie Hunt
Coach Reggie Hunt begins his first season with the Fighting Owls and will work primarily with the safeties. Hunt comes to the Fighting Owls after spending the last 13 years in the high school game.
Hunt kicked off his high school coaching career at Marshall High School in Pasadena. From there, Hunt moved onto Polytechnic high school where he served as a football coach and track and field coach.
Hunt was a very successful high school player at John Muir, where he prepped three varsity seasons. He was named team Defensive MVP earned All-League honors twice and All-CIF honors as a senior.
After high school Hunt matriculated to the University of La Verne where he played one season. In his one season Hunt was a Pre-Season All-American, and earned All-SCIAC League honors.
Linebackers Coach Anthony Giannone
Coach Anthony Giannone begins his first season back with the Fighting Owls after 10 years off and on with the program over the last four decades. Giannone will work primarily with the linebackers. Giannone comes back to Citrus with over 35 years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels.
Over his four decade career, Giannone has coached at four different colleges (La Verne, Claremont McKenna, Pasadena, Citrus), and eight different area high schools. Giannone has come to be known as a respected defensive coach in and around the San Gabriel Valley.
Giannone was himself a decorated player. Coach Giannone played four varsity seasons at nearby Monrovia High School, earning All-Pacific League honors. From there he matriculated to Citrus College where he was a two-year standout also garnering All-Conference nods. After his time as a Fighting Owl, Coach Giannone moved on to Cal Poly Pomona where he played two more seasons, again earning All-Conference recognition.
Giannone, who is a veteran of the United States Army, earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cal Poly. When he’s not on the football field, Giannone serves the Citrus community as the Campus Safety Supervisor.