Steve Mooshagian
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- Title:
- Head Coach
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- Phone:
- 805-289-6138
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- Email:
- smooshagian@vcccd.edu
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- Years at VC:
- 15th Year
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- Bachelor's Degree:
- B.S. Fresno State University, 1983
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- Master's Degree:
- M.A. Columbia Pacific, 1984
In his 14-year tenure at the helm of the Ventura College football program, Steve Mooshagian has turned VC into one of the most respected programs throughout the state and the country. He has produced a 101-40 record in 13 seasons guiding the Pirates' ship, making him VC's all-time winningest football coach over nearly a century of gridiron history. He has led the orange and black to nine conference titles, including four in a row from 2014-2017 and at least a share of the past three (2021-23). The Pirates have been to the post-season in each of the past 12 seasons. Last season, Mooshagian guided VC to its third-ever Southern California title game and also coached the Pirates to their first-ever playoff victory in their run to the Southern California Football Association title and an appearance in the 3C2A State Championship game in 2018. Mooshagian has helped 333 players transfer to four-year schools during his tenure with the Pirates.
Last season, VC won eight games, giving the Pirates eight seasons with 8+ wins under Mooshagian. The Pirates captured their fourth straight Northern Conference championship and upsetting Fullerton on the road to earn the right to host the SCFA title game. Following the season, Mooshagian was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Ventura posted its seventh straight season with seven or more wins with a 7-4 overall record. VC won their final three games of the season to claim a share of the program's third consecutive Northern Conference title and its sixth in the past seven seasons. Ventura qualified for the SCFA Final Four for the seventh time under Mooshagian.
In 2021, the Pirates returned from the Covid year off with one of the best seasons in program history. VC went undefeated in the regular season for the second time under Mooshagian, the first being in 2012. Ventura began the year with a record-setting victory over Moorpark in the 53rd annual Citrus Cup game, and it got better from there. The Pirates sailed through the SCFA Northern Conference for their second straight conference title, their seventh under Mooshagian. VC went into the post-season as the No. 1-seed before an upset loss ended the season permaturely.
In 2019 Ventura went 8-3, winning its 12th straight Citrus Cup over rival Moorpark College and claiming VC's sixth SCFA Northern Conference championship under Coach Mooshagian, making the program's ninth straight post-season appearance. Mooshagian guided the Pirates through the COVID-19 pandemic last year, during which the 2020 season was cancelled in California.
Ventura's football team reached unheralded heights in 2018. VC posted a 9-1 regular season record, including rivalry wins in the "Big Game" over Santa Barbara and VC's triumph in the Citrus Cup game against Moorpark. Their only blemish was a setback at College of the Canyons for the Northern Conference title, but the Pirates gained a measure of redemption, however, defeating the previously unbeaten Cougars three weeks later in the semifinals of the SCFA playoffs, Ventura's first ever football playoff victory. They followed up that win with a triumph at undefeated Riverside to capture VC's first SCFA championship. The post-season march came to a heartbreaking end in the CCCAA State championship game, finishing 13 yards short of a game-winning touchdown in the 40-35 loss to Laney College. Mooshagian was named the American Community College Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 2018.
VC football completed another banner campaign in 2017 with their fourth straight SCFA Northern Conference title, the program's fourth in five years. Completing the conference four-peat with a perfect 5-0 record. Ventura posted its 10th straight win in the Citrus Cup with a win over Moorpark 49-27 and also won the “Big Game” rivalry with Santa Barbara, defeating the Vaqueros 47-6. Ventura finished the year 8-3 overall, advancing to the CCCAA State Playoffs for the fourth time in five years and to a post-season bowl for the seventh straight season. The Pirates were ranked No.5 in the final JC Athletic Bureau state poll, 10th in the final JCFootball.com national poll.
In 2016 the Pirates won their third straight Northern conference Championship, The Pirates' offensive express set team records for total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns, Ventura Finished the season 8-3 with a Tight Playoff loss over eventual state champions Fullerton in the SCFA Semi Finals. Pirates finished the year ranked No. 7 in the state and 11th nationally.
In 2015, the Pirates won their second straight conference championship. VC was an offensive juggernaut, posting school records for scoring, total offense, plays from scrimmage, first downs and touchdown passes. The Pirates defeated rival Moorpark for the eighth straight season and defeated Orange Coast in the Beach Bowl to cap an 8-3 year and a final ranking of No. 10 in the state.
The 2014 Pirates won their second SCFA Northern Conference championship in three years advancing to the playoffs (National Bowl) losing in a great effort at No. 1-ranked Riverside. Ventura finished the year ranked No. 8 in Southern California and No. 15 in the state.
In 2013, the Pirates advanced to the Golden State Bowl and finished at 6-5. VC was ranked No. 9 regionally in the final CCCAA/CCCFCA coaches’ poll.
The 2012 campaign produced the first undefeated team in schools 87-year football playing history and the Pirates earned a trip to the Southern California Playoffs for the first time since 1999. VC ended the season ranked No. 5 in the final state poll. Mooshagian was selected as the Southern California Football Association Northern Conference Coach of the year following the season.
The 2011 campaign included victories over perennial powers Bakersfield, Hancock, and a dramatic road win at El Camino to clinch the Pirates' bowl berth. VC was ranked throughout the season, climbing to a final mark of No. 7 in the final poll, narrowly missing a So Cal Regional Playoff berth.
VC had a respectable 5-5 campaign in 2010 in the tough National Northern Conference on a shortened recruiting and summer work-out schedule. Highlights included a 28-21 win at Mooshagian Alma mater, Cerritos College. The Pirates climbed as high as No. 6 in the CCCAA/CCCFCA regional poll, finishing the season ranked No. 14.
In his 13 seasons at the helm, Mooshagian has posted a 13-0 record in the Citrus Cup against rival Moorpark College and is 5-0 against Santa Barbara City College in the Big Game. VC has won 11 of the last 13 games on the field against Bakersfield and has defeated perennial power Cerritos five times.
In 2009 with Mooshagian serving as the Head Coach at Feather River College in Quincy, Calif. the Golden Eagles played for the Mid-Empire Conference championship in the season finale. FRC was Ranked # 15 in the final poll in Northern California. They also had 12 Players selected First Team All-Conference and had two Players make the All-State team. FRC also sent 28 Student-Athletes from the 2009 team on to four-year Programs.
Prior to his time at FRC, Mooshagian served as the Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach at the University of San Diego. He guided a talented wide receivers group that re-wrote the record book during his two year tenure. In 2008 John Matthews (Indianapolis Colts) set a new single season mark with 20 touchdowns and career mark with 50 TD’s as he led the nation in every receiving category. Matthews caught 121 balls for 1,476 yards, both new single season records. In 2007 WR Wes Doyle tied USD’s single season mark with 73 receptions. USD also led the Nation (NCAA Division I-FCS) in scoring 44.3 pts per game.
Mooshagian came to USD with an extensive coaching background, including four years as the head coach at Sacramento State (2003-2006). In his four years at Sacramento State, he coached five Division I-AA All-Americans, three Division I-AA Freshmen All-Americans and 54 players who earned All-Big Sky Conference honors. During his last season the team’s 4-4 Big Sky conference record was the 2nd best record in the school’s 11-year Division I history. In his four seasons he played a direct role in the development of All-America wide receiver Fred Amey who played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2005. Mooshagian coached the receivers in his first two seasons, including 2004 when Amey caught a school-record 72 passes and was named first team all-Big Sky for the third straight year.
A native Californian, Mooshagian has coached at the high school, junior college, college and professional levels. Prior to his post at Sacramento State, he served as the wide receiver coach with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1999-2002. In 2002, he guided the only receiving corps in the NFL to have four players with at least 40 catches. With the Bengals, he coached some of the best young receivers in the league, including all-pros Chad (Johnson) OchoCinco, TJ Houshmenzadeh, Darnay Scott, Carl Pickens, and Peter Warrick. He also worked under 2010 NFL Hall of Famer Dick Lebeau.
Prior to working with the Bengals, Mooshagian was the offensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh for two years (1997-98) where they led the Big East in passing offense and played in the Liberty Bowl. He was Offensive Coordinator / Quarterback coach at Nevada (1996), who led the nation in total offense with an average of 527.3 yards of total offense. The Wolf Pack posted a 9-3 overall record while winning the Big West title and Las Vegas Bowl. He also had coaching stops at Fresno City College (Head Coach, 1995), and Fresno State (1985-1994), where Mooshagian coached 10 NFL wide receivers, coached in 6 bowl games, and won six conference titles. Mooshagian also coached at Washington Union HS (1983-84), where he spent one year as Head Coach and one as Offensive Coordinator, winning the CIF Central Section Championship.
Mooshagian graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in physical education (1983) and later added his master’s degree in 1984. He also holds a Life Community College Credential in Physical Education.
He played two seasons at Cerritos College (1978-79) and for the Fresno State Bulldogs (1980-81) as a wide receiver, and following graduation signed as a free-agent wide receiver with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL (1983).
Mooshagian was also inducted into his High School (Downey) Hall of Fame May 2013 for his Athletic and Coaching Achievements.
Steve and his wife Jill together have six adult children and 10 grandchildren.
NFL Pro Bowl Players coached:
Carl Pickens- Cincinnati Bengals 1999
Chad Johnson (OchoCinco) - Cincinnati Bengals 2001-2002
T.J. Houshmenzadeh- Cincinnati Bengals 2001-2002
Super Bowl Participants coached and or Recruited:
Stephen Baker-WR - New York Giants (XXV)
JD Williams-CB - Buffalo Bills (XXV,XXVI)
Ron Cox-LB - Green Bay Packers (XXXI)
Marquez Pope-DB - San Francisco 49ers (XXIX)
Lorenzo Neal-FB - Tennessee Titans (XXXIV)
Trent Dilfer-QB - Baltimore Ravens (XXXV)
Omar Stoutmire - SS- New York Giants (XXXV)
Hank Poteat-CB - New England Patriots (XXXVIII)
Peter Warrick-WR - Seattle Seahawks (XXXX)
DJ Dinkins-TE - New Orleans Saints (XLIV)
John Matthews-WR - Indianapolis Colts (XLIV)
Jalen Watson-DB - Kansas City Chiefs (LVII, LVIII)
Bowl Games Played/Coached in:
1978 Avocado Bowl Participants - Cerritos College vs. Golden West College
1985 California Bowl Champions - Fresno State vs. Bowling Green
1988 California Bowl Champions - Fresno State vs. Western Michigan
1989 California Raisin Bowl Champions - Fresno State vs. Ball State
1991 California Raisin Bowl Participants - Fresno State vs. Bowling Green
1992 Freedom Bowl Champions - Fresno State vs. USC
1993 Aloha Bowl Participants - Fresno State vs. Colorado
1994 Disneyland Pigskin Classic Participants - Fresno State vs. Ohio State
1996 Las Vegas Bowl Champions - Nevada vs. Ball State
1997 Liberty Bowl Participants - Pittsburgh vs. Southern Mississippi
2011 Beach Bowl Champions - Ventura vs. Desert
2012 Beach Bowl Participants - Ventura vs. Bakersfield (SCFA Playoffs)
2013 Golden State Bowl Participants - Ventura vs. Mt. San Antonio
2014 National Bowl Participants - Ventura vs. Riverside (SCFA Playoffs)
2015 Beach Bowl Champions - Ventura vs. Orange Coast
2016 National Bowl Participants - Ventura vs. Fullerton (SCFA Playoffs)
2017 Regional Playoff Participant- Ventura vs. Riverside (SCFA Playoffs)
2018 SCFA Champions CCCAA Runner-Up, Ventura def. Canyons, Ventura def. Riverside (SCFA Playoffs), Ventura vs. Laney (CCCAA Championship)
2019 Beach Bowl Participants - Ventura vs. Cerritos
2021 SCFA Semifinals - Ventura vs. Riverside
2022 SCFA Semifinals - Ventura at Riverside
2023 SCFA Runner-Up, Ventura def. Fullerton (SCFA Semifinal), Ventrua vs. Riverside (SCFA Championship Game)
Conference Championships Won:
1978 South Coast Conference Champions - Cerritos College
1985 PCAA Champions - Fresno State
1988 Big West Champions - Fresno State
1989 Big West Champions - Fresno State
1991 Big West Champions - Fresno State
1992 WAC Champions - Fresno State
1993 WAC Champions - Fresno State
1996 Big West Champions - Nevada
2007 Pioneer League Champions - USD
2012 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2014 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2015 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2016 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2017 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2019 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2021 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2022 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2023 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
2024 SCFA Northern Conference Champions - Ventura College
Coach of the Year honors:
2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 (ACCFCA National CoY), 2021, 2022, 2023