Football

There is a strong coaching heritage over the 55+ years of Rustlers football when Ray Shackelford led the program for nearly 30 of those years. Dennis Dixon, Mike Shaughnessy and Alex Gerke followed for another 7 years.

Nick Mitchell has been the head coach at Golden West for the past 16 of those years and has carried on the tradition by cementing himself as one of the top head coaches in Junior College football.

Having taken over the helm and rebuilding process of the program in 2006, Coach Mitchell took the Rustlers from a lower-level program to a mid-level program, and finally to a consistent power in the upper division of Southern California JC football where the Rustlers have been since 2012.

Golden West Football is often referred to as the top small school program in southern California. With an enrollment of around 9,000 students, Golden West consistently beats schools with enrollments two to three times their size.

Student-athlete recognition and placement has been stellar during this duration with over 250 football players receiving scholarships to the 4-year level, over 100 all-conference performers, 7 conference players of the year, 22 all state players, 5 all-Americans and 2 state players of the year. In addition Golden West has put over 150 student-athletes onto the SCFA Scholar Athlete team and the CCCFCA Academic All-State team.

2006 The Mitchell era begins as the Rustlers win their opener but lose a tough 8 straight and many within the final minutes of the game but finish off the season beating OCC in the rivalry Bell game.

2007 Saw year two of the rebuilding process take another step forward as the Rustlers double their win total to finish off the season with a 4-6 record.

2008 The Rustlers opened their first season in the newly formed American Mountain Conference with a 16-11 win over pre-season #1 Saddleback College. But losing in the American Mountain Conference championship game to San Diego Southwestern College to end the season at 6-4. A final #19 SoCal ranking sees the Rustlers in the state rankings for the first time in many years.

2009 Year two in the American Mountain Conference, the Rustlers started out 0-4 with some early season losses to some of the top teams in SoCal before finding their groove and rattling off 7 straight wins and an American Mountain Conference Championship. The Rustlers went on to beat then highly ranked Ventura College in the Orange County Bowl 37-36. After scoring the tying touchdown as regulation expired the Rustlers kicked the tying extra point to take it to overtime. However, there was a roughing the kicker call on Ventura. The Rustlers took the half-the-distance penalty and went for the win with the fullback dive on the un-timed 2-point conversion. A final #9 SoCal ranking.

2010 The Rustlers moved up in competition to the Central East Conference and finished with a respectable 6-4 record including a win at then state power El Camino College. A final #18 SoCal ranking.

2011 Year two in the Central East Conference saw the Rustlers cap off a 7-4 season with a victory over high-powered Long Beach City College 51-36 in the Central Championship Bowl. A final #8 in SoCal ranking.

2012 After 2 years of success in the Central East Conference, the Rustlers moved up to the highest level of Southern California football and the National Southern Conference. Unfortunately, Injuries took their toll early losing their only 2 quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. The Rustlers struggled all season rotating different skill players in and out of the QB position to finish 3-7.

2013 Bouncing back off their injury plagued 2012 season, the Rustlers finished with a 9-2 record with their only regular season loss coming from Fullerton College and an eventual loss to Riverside City College in the 4-team state playoffs. A final #3 SoCal and #6 state ranking.

2014 The Rustlers finish with a second straight 2^nd place finish in the powerful Southern Conference. The season concluded with a tough loss in the highest scoring game in Beach Bowl history vs Long Beach City College. Quarterback Chris d’Entremont led the way with 43 TDs and only 7 INTs while capping off his stellar two-year stint with the state’s Offensive Player of the Year award. A final #5 SoCal, #13 state ranking, and 7-4 record.

2015 Saw the Rustlers open the season with 8 straight wins and a #1 state ranking but finished the season with two straight losses and a narrow 29-27 loss to Mt. Sac College in the Patriotic Bowl. A final #6 SoCal and #9 state ranking.

2016 After having the best overall record the past two seasons in the powerful Southern Conference, the Rustlers were given a 2-year schedule against the toughest teams in SoCal due to their previous 2-year power rankings. The season was highlighted by the first ever football game played on the Golden West College campus against Palomar College to celebrate the College’s 50^th anniversary. The Rustlers won 35-23. The season finished up 4-6 ending a streak of 3 straight bowl game appearances with a final #11 SoCal ranking.

2017 Year two with arguably the toughest schedule in Southern California saw the Rustlers repeat their previous 4-6 campaign. The season began a new era of Rustler football, playing all 5 of their home games on campus for the first time in the history of the program. A final #11 SoCal ranking once again saw the Rustlers just miss out on a bowl game.

2018 A solid season ended with a final #10 SoCal ranking, 3^rd straight win vs rival OCC and the coveted Bell trophy, and a trip to the Southern California Bowl vs Cerritos College. An early, back and forth, physical battle ended in a disappointing 21-9 loss to finish the season.

2019 The Rustlers finished with a #11 final SoCal ranking and some big wins including the 4^th straight against rival OCC but a slew of key injuries dwindled the Rustlers roster down as the season drew to a close and forcing them to miss out as Bowl selections were announced.

2020 Was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

2021 The Rustlers came out of the pandemic break with a perfect 10-0 record with huge wins at then defending state champ Riverside City College snapping their 22 game home win streak, and perennial powers Fullerton and Saddleback colleges. The defense led the way all season giving up a state leading 12 points a game. Going into the 4-team state playoffs GWC finished with a #2 SoCal ranking and matched up against powerful #4 College of the Canyons in the first round. The Rustlers again came out victorious. They would need to beat Riverside City College a second time in the SoCal Championship game to play in the vaunted state Championship against San Francisco City College – the #1 team in northern California. In a wild finish, the runner-up state Defensive Player of the Year RCC LB Noa Purcell tackled GWC WR Nick Kennewell on the 1 yard line as time expired to preserve the win for the Tigers. Safety Codie Sauvao was honored as California’s state Defensive Player of the Year to wrap up post-season honors.

Prior to Golden West, Mitchell spent 3 seasons as the Assistant Head Coach, Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at DII power Humboldt State University in Northern California. During those 3 years Humboldt led the GNAC in both punt returns and kickoff returns while developing 2X All-American Kyle Killingsworth into a dominant safety and return man.

Prior to Humboldt State, Mitchell was the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA. During those two seasons the Comets led the BVAL in total defense both years allowing opponents under 300 yards per game.

Prior to Contra Costa, Mitchell spent two seasons as the Defensive Backs coach and Bay Area recruiter at Humboldt State where he mentored All Conference Safeties Muhammad Muheize and CB Kejuan Bullard

Prior to Humboldt State, Mitchell spent one season as the Defensive Backs coach and California recruiter at Lone Star Conference power Eastern New Mexico University. Mitchell developed All Conference Safety Tony Cavalier and CB Kenneth Drake.

Prior to Eastern New Mexico, Mitchell spent one season at Northern State University in South Dakota as the Defensive Backs coach and California recruiter. At Northern Mitchell developed All Conference players CB Gary Shaw and Safety Ben Ellis.

Prior to Northern State, Mitchell started his coaching career at Humboldt State under local coaching legend HC Fred Whitmire after a two-year career at defensive back for the Lumberjacks.

Playing collegiately at Humboldt State during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Mitchell won back to back NCAC titles while starting at safety, including wins over 1AA powers UC Davis, Cal Poly, and St. Mary’s.

Prior to Humboldt State, Mitchell was a starter at cornerback for Solano College in Suisun, CA under HC Ron Beverly where he was part of two straight BVAL championships.

Mitchell attended Hogan High school in Vallejo, CA where he was an all MEL outside linebacker and running back under HC Tony Kehl and Ed Sowash.

Notable players coached:

Nick Purcell GWC – One of only a handful of players to ever make the jump from Junior College straight to the NFL when Nick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles out of Golden West College in 2012

Lavasier Tuinei GWC – After playing his freshman season at GWC “LT” went on to start for 3 seasons for the Oregon Ducks, culminating in being named the Offensive MVP in the 2012 Rose Bowl vs. Wisconsin. LT spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots before finishing his career with the BC Lions of the Canadien Football League.

Andrew Iupati GWC – The youngest of the Iupati brothers, Andrew was a 2X all conference and all-state player for the Rustlers before transferring to the University of Oregon. Andrew spent some time with the San Francisco 49ers before ending his football career.

Stanley Malamala GWC – After an All-Conference, All-State and All-American sophomore season at TE, Malamala went on to start for Arizona State University.

Chris d’Entremont GWC – State Offensive Player of the Year at GWC his sophomore season after throwing for 43 TDs and 7 INTs. Chris went on to finish his career at Southern Utah University.

Anthony McNichols GWC – Conference Defensive Player of the Year, All-State and All-American linebacker who went on to play collegiately at Portland State.

Nate Simon GWC – 2X All Conference safety who went on to play collegiately at Georgia.

Sese Ianu GWC – After only ever playing 2 years of high school football since arriving from Western Samoa, Ianu was a 2X All-Conference player who went on to play collegiately at The University of Utah.

Dylan Klumph GWC – Klumph played his freshman season earning All-Conference honors before transferring and starting for 3 seasons at Cal.

Michael Maguire GWC – After transferring to GWC from D2 University of Duluth, Maguire went on to develop into an All-State player who went on to play at USC.

Richard Carreno GWC – After serving on the front lines of some of the most heated battles in Mosul, Iraq and Afghanistan for two tours in the Marines, Carreno came to GWC, started for two seasons at OL and went on to play collegiately at Arkansas – Pine Bluff. Thank you for your service to our country Richard!

Patrick Tafua GWC – Tafua was a 2X All-Conference safety who went on to be a 2X captain at the University of Ohio.

Kyle Killingsworth HSU – 2X All American and GNAC Defensive Player of the Year at safety and return specialist.

Kejuan Bullard HSU – Bullard earned Freshman All-Conference and All-American honors at CB his first season for the Lumberjacks.

Tony Cavalier ENMU – Cavalier earned All-Conference and honorable mention All-American honors his senior year for the Greyhounds.

Ben Ellis NSU – Ellis (younger brother of Detroit Lion’s Luther Ellis) was an All-Conference and All-American at safety for the Wolves.

Rusty Dudley HSU – 3X All NCAC/GNAC Safety for the Lumberjacks and honorable mention All American.

Juan Viramontes HSU – Katella High Hall of Famer was 2X All NCAC/GNAC Safety for the Lumberjacks.