Longtime Junipero Serra head football coach Scott Altenberg is a finalist for the prestigious Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award after being named the Los Angeles Chargers 2023 Coach of the Year. The Shula Award salutes high school coaches for their character and integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
Altenberg has been Serra’s head coach since 2000. During that time, he’s led the school to state championships in 2012 and 2021 while winning 219 games.
This past season, Coach Altenberg led the Cavaliers to a 9-4 record. The Cavs were ranked No. 111 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Altenberg’s program has produced a lot of NFL talent. This past season, there were three former Serra players on NFL rosters.
- Rasheem Green, DT – Chicago Bears
- Adoree’ Jackson, CB – New York Giants
- Robert Woods, WR – Houston Texans
During the regular season, Altenberg was named the team’s Los Angeles County COTW for Week 10.
2023 Los Angeles Chargers Coach of the Week Winners
| Coach of the Week Winners | Los Angeles County | Orange County | San Diego County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Sean Jackson – Verdugo High School | David Gutierrez – Fountain Valley High School | Will Gray – Hoover High School |
| Week 1 | Steve Medina – Legacy High School | Daniel Hernandez – Ocean View High School | Casey Ash – West Hills High School |
| Week 2 | Guy Gardner – Palos Verdes High | Dusan Ancich – Villa Park High | Eric Weddle – Rancho Bernardo High |
| Week 3 | Derek Bedell – Mayfair High | Randall Reynoso – El Toro High | Tyler Arciaga – Bonita High |
| Week 4 | Rudy Fortiz – Marquez High | Chad Johnson – Mission Viejo High | Sean Sovacool – La Costa Canyon High |
| Week 5 | Matt Bechtel – Damien High | Rob Frith – San Juan Hills High | Ray Vandiver and Rick Rubio – Brawley High |
| Week 6 | Jim Rose – Birmingham High | James Stewart – La Quinta High | Shane Walton – Bishops High |
| Week 7 | Kevin Pearson – Warren High | Sean Curtis – Capistrano Valley High | Marlon Gardinera – Scripps High |
| Week 8 | Andy Moran – Eagle Rock High | Kevin Oberlander – Sonora High | David Dunn – Lincoln High |
| Week 9 | Dylen Smith – Palisades Charter High | Dan Urbanos – Kennedy High | Scott Ashby – Torrey Pines High |
| Week 10 | Scott Altenberg – Junipero Serra High (Gardena) | Frank Mazzotta – La Habra High | David Pena – Central High |
The National Football League will select two Shula Award winners, one from each conference (AFC/NFC). The winners will be honored at the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl LVIII. Nike supports this program by providing the two Don Shula Award winners with $10,000 each, and their high school football programs each with $15,000. Additionally, the other 30 finalists will receive $1,000.
For nearly two decades, the Chargers have teamed up with the NFL to host the team’s High School Football Coach of the Week program. Annually, this program recognizes high school football coaches who have made a difference in the lives of their players through leadership, hard work, and a special dedication to their young scholar-athletes. All nominations are decided upon by the Chargers Coach of the Week Selection Committee comprised of California Interscholastic (CIF) Federation administrators, retired coaches, and more. Each winning Coach receives $1,000 to go to their school’s athletic department.
