Joby Nunez

Joby Nunez made his mark as an athlete, coach and administrator in the Santa Barbara School District.

As a student at Santa Barbara High in the mid-1960s, Nunez earned all-Channel League honors in football and baseball. He was named the Dons’ team MVP in baseball as a senior and was voted the school’s best all-around athlete in 1966.

He coached at all three Santa Barbara area public high schools, starting at Dos Pueblos in 1972. He was an assistant for coach Dick Mires in football and for Scott O’Leary in baseball and was later named the head coach for the Boys’ soccer team. The team he put together in 1981 went on to win the CIF title two years later.

Nunez returned to his alma mater in 1985 and worked as an assistant football coach and head Boys’ soccer coach. He was part of coach Lito Garcia’s football staff that led the Dons to a CIF title in 1989. His ’89 soccer team finished as CIF runner-up.

Nunez came out of coaching retirement in 2010 to assist his friend Jeff Hesselmeyer with the San Marcos varsity football team.

After graduating from Santa Barbara High, Nunez received a scholarship to play football at Mesa Community College in Grand Junction, Colo., where he started at quarterback as a freshman.

He transferred to Oregon State and was a member of one of the most famous football teams in school history. The 1967 Beavers, dubbed the “Giant Killers,” finished ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press poll with a 7-2-1 record. They beat No. 1-ranked USC, No. 2 Purdue and played No. 2 UCLA to a 16-16 tie. The team was inducted into the Oregon State Hall of Fame.

Nunez finished his college athletic career at UCSB, where he earned his degree and secondary teaching credential. He was captain of the Gaucho football team in 1971.

Nunez retired from the Santa Barbara School District as an administrator.