Football

Rick Curtis named Teacher, Head Football Coach, & Director of Athletic Leadership

Crean Lutheran High School is excited to announce Rick Curtis as a teacher, Head Football Coach, and Director of Athletic Leadership. Rick comes to Crean Lutheran with a wealth of experience in athletic leadership, teaching, and as Head Football Coach, with a proven track record of success. Rick is a faithful man of God and looks forward to leading young men on the path to Jesus Christ, and encouraging them to reach their full potential on the field and in life. One of Rick’s favorite Bible verses is: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23. This specific verse has been the Crean Lutheran Saints Football guiding team verse since the program started in 2010. In response to the hiring of Rick Curtis, Executive Director and CEO, Mr. Jeffrey Beavers, shared the following statement.

The Saint's family is excited to begin the next chapter in football with a sage and faithful coach who has a proven track record. Coach Curtis knows how to build a strong and cohesive football program, and especially understands how faith can impact the lives of young men beyond the gridiron. The Crean Lutheran community is excited and blessed to welcome Coach Curtis and his family.

Rick Curtis - football head Coach

Kurt WESTLING - VARSITY OFFENSE/ QUARTERBACKS/ SPECIAL TEAMS

Coach Westling is very excited and blessed to come to Crean Lutheran to assist Coach Oka with the offense and Coach Curtis with the special teams. Coach Westling will be coaching the quarterbacks on the offensive side of the ball. Westling has had 3 quarterbacks throw for more than 3,000 yards in the last 8 seasons. Westling comes to Crean Lutheran from Aliso Niguel HS, where he was the head coach for the last 10 years. He has been in the coaching ranks for 36 years. Before Aliso Niguel, Westling coached at San Clemente, Capo Valley, and Saddleback high schools. Westling revealed that “my biggest highlights in coaching were coaching the 1996 undefeated CIF championship team at Aliso Niguel, and coaching his son, Drew, who led Orange County in passing in 2004.”   Westling’s goals this year are for the players to improve their football skills, play as a team, compete every second, grow spiritually, and have fun while they are competing.

Coach Westling will also be teaching mathematics at Crean Lutheran.

Kurt Westling graduated from St. Paul High School and played for the legendary coach, Marijon Ancich. He received his BA in Math from Cal State Fullerton, his Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount, and his MA in Education from Cal State San Bernardino. Coach Westling lives in Mission Viejo with his wife, Marguerite, and they have 4
children: Drew, Wyatt, Jenna, and Tessa. The Wrestling’s have 3 grandchildren, Holly and twins, Brynn and Brax.

Coach Westling’s favorite Bible verse is John 15:13:
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

jonathan bunnel - football assistant coach - defensive line

Coach Jonathan Bunnel is excited for the opportunity to join the Crean Lutheran Football staff. Coach Bunnel comes to Crean Lutheran with four years of playing experience at Chapman University, where he was a team captain during the 2019 season. As a defensive lineman, Bunnel helped lead the Panthers to a SCIAC Conference Championship in 2017 and again in 2019. In 2019, the Panthers also secured their first victory in a NCAA DIII playoff game. He graduated from Chapman in 2020 with a double major in Economics and Philosophy. Bunnel has a passion for weightlifting as well as football; he holds the Chapman Football record in the squat, 715 pounds.

Prior to playing at Chapman, Bunnel played high school football at Saddleback Valley Christian in San Juan Capistrano, filling the role of team captain in 2014 and again in 2015 when the Warriors won a CIF and Regional title. During Bunnel’s four years with the Warriors they won four league championships. A two-way starter, Bunnel also holds a school record with 44 career sacks, as well as several weightlifting records.

Coach Bunnel’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23:4:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

justin danh - defensive coordinator

Coach Justin Danh is joining Crean Lutheran as the Varsity Football Defensive Coordinator. Coach Danh was born and raised in Orange County and now resides in Aliso Viejo with his wife Erika, twin boys Micah and Ezra, and their two cats, Batman and Robin. When he's not with his family, he loves helping high school students succeed on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Teaching is his passion, whether it's the game of football or algebra. Prior to joining Crean Lutheran, Coach Danh coached at his alma mater, Cal Poly SLO, and coached and taught at JSerra Catholic High School. He is so excited and grateful to be joining Crean Lutheran and can't wait to see what God has in store for the Saints.

His favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9:
 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

edward lung - varsity offensive line coach

Coach Edward Lung is excited to be joining the Crean Lutheran varsity staff as its offensive line coach. Coach Lung comes to Crean Lutheran with three years of offensive line coaching experience and seven years of playing experience. Lung is a graduate of Capistrano Valley High School, playing for the Cougars prior to continuing his education and football career at Saddleback College. Lung is currently working to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Business Operations and Supply Chain Management at Cal State Fullerton, with an anticipated graduation in the spring of 2021.

Prior to coming to the Saints, Lung was the varsity offensive line coach for the Capistrano Valley Christian Eagles. Lung helped lead the Eagles to a 16 – 6 record for the past two years, while also capturing a league championship and advancing to the CIF playoffs in consecutive years. Lung’s passion is to teach young offensive lineman the right technique to succeed at the high school level and on to the next level. He also has a strong desire to build young men with strong character, while doing so with a strong work ethic. Coach Lung is excited for what God has in store for the Saints this season!

Coach Lung’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 34:4:
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

russell oka - offensive coordinator

Coach Russell Oka is excited to join Crean Lutheran with ten years of coaching experience at the youth, high school, and collegiate level.  His credentials include his alma mater Loyola High School, Palos Verdes Pop Warner, California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo, California Lutheran University, and JSerra Catholic High School.  Coach Oka comes with a diverse coaching background, coaching defensive backs, wide receivers, and running backs.  He has coached elite players, who received accolades such as All-League, All-CIF, and All-Orange County.  Additionally, Coach Oka had a brief stint with Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll.

Most recently, Coach Oka served as the Head JV Coach / Offensive Coordinator and Varsity Running Backs Coach for JSerra Catholic High School.  In addition to coaching, Oka was the Associate Athletic Director for Academics and Student Educational Resource Program Testing Center Supervisor.

Coach Oka is grateful to God for providing him with an opportunity to be coaching at a Christ-centered institution.  He is honored to be joining Coach Rick Curtis, a well-respected high school coach in Orange County. 

As a graduated from Loyola High School, he was part of the 2005 CIF Division 1 Championship team.  Coach Oka received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pitzer College, where he also played running back for the Sagehens.  He continued his education at California Lutheran University, where he received his Master’s in Education Leadership.  Currently, Coach Oka resides in Mission Viejo, and will be getting married in June 2020 to his wonderful fiancé Kimi.

His favorite Bible verse is 1 Samuel 16:7:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

Ryan Currameng- Football Team Chaplain

Crean Lutheran High School is proud to announce that Ryan Curammeng has been named the new coach for the girls and boys varsity golf teams and has joined the faculty team full-time to teach Advanced Placement U.S. History and Honors U.S. History. Currameng will also be Crean Lutheran High School's chaplain for the football team.

Coach Curammeng coached baseball, cross country, golf, and for the past 6 years served as the chaplain for the football team at Capistrano Valley Christian.

Coach Curammeng wants his players to focus and learn from the Bible verse “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Curammeng received his bachelor of arts degree from Cal Baptist University and his teaching credential from Concordia University, Irvine. He plans to apply his devotion to Jesus Christ in the classroom as well. “I’m a firm believer that Christ is in history and there are a lot of principles,” he said. “It is important to use the gifts that God has given us to glorify Him. I believe work is an act of worship, whether we are doing golf or history or math or digging a ditch, we’re doing it to his glory and to please Him and he promises to bless us.”

Curammeng has been a leader for the Mission Viejo/Dana Point Coaches of Influence fellowship and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He and his wife Florice live in Mission Viejo with their three daughters: Camille (UCSD), Makaela, and Halia. The Curammeng family attends Saddleback Covenant Church in Mission Viejo.  

colin shumate - strength & conditioning

Coach Shu has been coaching for 10 years and is excited to be starting his first year at Crean Lutheran. He earned a BS in Physical Education and Health Science, an MS in Human Health and Performance, as well as CSCS and USAW certifications from San Diego State University where he was proud to receive a full-ride scholarship to play football.

Coach Shu and his wife, Sarah, are transitioning to Orange County from San Diego. Sarah has her DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) and played water polo at SDSU, where she still holds the all-time assists record. 

His favorite Bible verse is James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  He hopes this verse teaches the boys to know we have the hope and faith to face any trial, and God will make us better through all of it and can invigorate us to push through anything . . . from football to beyond.

“I am excited about growing with the team and developing great young men.” 

mitch matoon - head athletic trainer

Mitch has been a trainer for eight years, with four of them being at Crean Lutheran. He went to John F. Kennedy High School and Concordia University Irvine. In addition to his undying loyalty to the many teams at Crean Lutheran, Mitch is branching out into teaching Sports Medicine here at Crean Lutheran. 

Mitch is very proud to be the first in his family to attend and graduate college. He resides in Fullerton with his wife Melody and beautiful daughter, Fynnley (1).

His favorite Bible verse is Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

 “I am looking forward to the brotherhood that is built during the course of the year, battling as a team through all of the challenges they will face throughout the season.”

aubree gooden - athletic trainer

This is Aubree’s second year as an athletic trainer for Crean Lutheran. She attended La Verne Lutheran High School and Concordia University Irvine. She now lives in Upland.

Aubree’s favorite Bible verse is Revelation 2:10, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." To Aubree, this verse is a constant reminder we will be tested, but the Lord will always keep His promise of eternal life with Him. 

 “I am excited to see how these young men grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.”