Biography
Mark McElroy chose to follow Jesus at the age of 10. By this time, he had lived in four different states with his younger brother and his parents that were both educators. His father was also a pastor for over 40 years. His favorite subjects in school were recess and math. He played multiple sports and always rallied the neighborhood kids to go play at the park. He graduated from San Clemente High School in 1978. After high school, he played college football at Kansas State University, Saddleback College and Chico State University. He determined at age 19, that he wanted to teach physical education and Coach football for his life long career.
At the age of 21, he married his young bride (Deanne) and they have been married for 43 years and have raised 4 children and have 11 grandchildren. He earned his BA in physical education at Chico State University and started teaching at San Clemente High School in 1983. While he was teaching at San Clemente Highs School, he chose to continue his higher education and earned an M.A. in Leadership and Human Behavior at USIU and an M.Ed. in Physical education at APU. In 1987, he was offered an opportunity to join the BYU football coaching staff and became a GA and he earned his Ed.D. in Physical Education – Sports at BYU while serving on the football staff under Lavell Edwards.
Upon completing his doctorate degree, he accepted an opportunity to coach football and teach at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. After one year there, he moved back home to San Clemente and taught at Marco Forster junior High School and coached locally. At this time, he began teaching numerous graduate classes at APU in 1991, and then accepted the Head Football Coaching job at San Clemente High School in 1992. He coached there for seven years and accepted the Head Football Coaching job at Saddleback College in 1999. He taught multiple classes at Saddleback College and was still teaching graduate classes at APU. He started teaching at Concordia University in 2013 and he still teaches the Psychology of Coaching class with over 20 years of Graduate school instruction.
Dr. McElroy really enjoys serving in the MCAA program and believes in the mission of the
program and the great opportunity to influence MCAA students and those they influence now and in the future. He believes in seasoning his teaching and mentoring from a biblical
perspective. He has a meaningful purpose, with joyful passion and a commitment to
perseverance in the way he teaches.
Degrees Earned
- Brigham Young University (1990): Ed.D. In Physical Education (Sport Leadership), 3.73 GPA.
- Azusa Pacific University (1988): M.Ed. in Physical Education, 3.92 GPA.
- United States International University (1988): M.A. in Leadership and Human Behavior.
- California State University – Chico (1982): B.A. in Physical Education, 3.69 GPA, Deans Honor List. Adapted Physical Education Specialist Credential
- Saddleback Community College (1980): A.A. in General Education, Deans’ Honor List
Courses Taught
- MCAA 520: Psychology of Coaching
Honors and Accolades
- CCCFCA Hall of Fame (2024)
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- American Football Coaches Association (Board of Trustees 2016-2021)
- California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
- American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- California Coaches Association (Former Southern Section Coordinator)
- Capistrano Unified School District “Extra Mile Award” 1995 (May) & 1998 (June)
- City of San Clemente Educator of the Month 1998 (November)
- NFL Coach of the Week ABC television 1998 (December 14)
Coaching Accolades
- Saddleback College (1999-2021)
- Head Football Coach/Offensive Coordinator
- 158-74 Record (Most Wins in School History)
- 5x League Champions and Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2012, 2015, 2016)
- 3x Regional Champions and Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2015)
- 1x SCFA Champion and Coach of the Year (2015)
- ACCFCA National Coach of the Year (2015)
- 13 consecutive years of Post season competition & (18 out of last 19 years in post season)
- 2019 – State Record 17 Scholar Athletes (Annual average of 10) 17 Players in the NFL
- 1 st or 2 nd team All-Conference QB or Offensive POY (17/21) years
- 4 State Offensive Players of the year – (QB’s) (2004, 2011, 2015, 2019) – Record
- Over 450 Players transferred from Saddleback to 4-year colleges
- (2016- 2021) AFCA – Board of Trustees (represent all Community Colleges in the U.S.)
- (2015 – 2020) Saddleback College Stadium Complex design team
- Head Surf Coach (Started Surf Program – 2001) – State Championship (2004)
Publications and Presentations
- McElroy, Mark (2013 – 2 nd Revision) Coaching the No-Huddle Offense: Champaign, ILL Sagamore Publishing
- McElroy, Mark (1998) Coaching the No-Huddle Offense: Champaign, ILL Sagamore Publishing
- McElroy, Mark (1998) Coaching the No-Huddle Offense: Video
- McElroy, Mark (1998) Coaching Effective Screen Passes: Video
- “How Belief affects your Behavior in Sport”. Sports Ministry Conference ’98 Biola University. (1998, November 21)
- Football Consultant to American Samoa with several presentations made and helped develop football programs at six High Schools on the Island (1998, August)
- Authored Initiative to change High School Football tiebreaker system in California(1994-1997)
- Numerous Football Clinic and Consulting engagements (1994-Present);
- Amos Alonzo Stagg: More than a Football Coach; California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. March 1992.
- Future Trends in California Interscholastic Athletics; California Assoc. for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. Dec. 1990.
- McElroy, G.M. (1990, November). Future Trends in California Interscholastic Athletics. CAHPERD Journal, pp. 21-22.
- Future Trends in High School Athletics”. California High School Athletic Directors Conference. April 1990.
- Possible Solutions to Potential Problems in High School Athletics”. Southwest District AAHPERD. February, 1990.
- McElroy, G.M. (1990) Predicting Future Trends in Coaching High School Athletics in California. Dissertation Abstracts International