Coaching Staff

State Champions

1950.......Pueblo Central 1951.......Denver East 1952.......Grand Junction 1953.......Denver North 1954.......Grand Junction 1955.......Colorado Springs 1956.......Pueblo Central 1957.......Greeley 1958.......Denver South 1959.......Denver South 1960.......Denver South 1961.......Grand Junction 1962.......Grand Junction 1963.......Aurora Central 1964.......Arvada 1965.......Palmer 1966.......Thomas Jefferson 1967.......Thomas Jefferson 1968.......Thomas Jefferson 1969.......Aurora Central 1970.......Lakewood 1971.......Roncalli 1972.......Pueblo Central 1973.......Longmont 1974.......Ranum 1975.......Greeley West 1976.......Grand Junction 1977.......Denver North 1978.......Mullen 1979.......Hinkley 1980.......Arapahoe 1981.......La Junta 1982.......Lakewood 1983.......Cherry Creek 1984.......Pueblo South 1985.......Mullen 1986.......Skyline 1987.......Columbine

1988.......Regis Jesuit

1989.......Air Academy 1990.......Overland 1991.......Boulder 1992.......Cherry Creek 1993.......Fairview 1994.......Arvada West 1995.......Cherry Creek 1996.......Cherry Creek 1997.......Cherry Creek 1998.......Cherry Creek 1999.......Cherry Creek 2000.......Loveland 2001.......Smoky Hill 2002.......Grand Junction Central 2003.......Pomona * 2004.......ThunderRidge 2005.......Grand Junction 2006.......Columbine 2007.......Rocky Mountain 2008.......Rocky Mountain 2009.......Rocky Mountain 2010.......Rocky Mountain

2011.......Regis Jesuit

2012.......Cherry Creek 2013.......ThunderRidge 2014.......Rocky Mountain * 2015.......Rock Canyon 2016.......Cherokee Trail 2017.......Rocky Mountain 2018.......Mountain Vista

2019.......Regis Jesuit

* Regis Jesuit state runner up

2019 Coaching Staff

Head Coach - Matt Darr

Coach Darr enters his seventh year at Regis Jesuit and twelfth as a high school coach. In 11 years as a high school coach, Coach Darr has compiled a record of 163-84, including 3 state championship game appearances and two State Titles. He has led his teams to the Colorado State Playoffs in all 11 years in which he has coached. In his last two years at Denver Christian his 2012 team made it to the final eight of the 2A playoffs, and his 2013 team won the 2A State Championship. He won his second state championship (first at Regis) this past year, leading the team to a 25-6 and a top 30 national ranking. In his first year at Regis Jesuit,

he led the team to a 21-5 record and a state championship appearance, losing to Rocky Mountain in the final. The 2014 Raiders made another run to the State Tournament, making it to the final eight. In 11 years of coaching, Coach Darr has been named the league coach of the year five times, the 2A Colorado Coach of the year in 2013, and the 5A Coach of the Year in 2019. He has the distinct honor of winning a coach of the year award at three different levels. (5A Continental League, 3A Metro League, 2A Mile High League). Prior to coaching at Denver Christian Coach Darr spent time as the athletic director at Crown College, MN, and the head assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado. Coach Darr prepped at Denver Christian where he was a two all-State player, leading the state of Colorado in hitting his senior year with .722 average. He continued his playing career at William Jewell College, MO where he was a 4-year starter, and two time All District player.

Coaching Specialty: Hitting, Outfield My coaching philosophy: Do everything you can to set the stage for kids to succeed. It is up to them to deliver. Favorite motivational quote: “You don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone”. - Herb Brooks

Favorite memory from coaching

at RJ: Winning the 2019 5A CHSAA State Championship over rival Cherry Creek.

What is your pre-game ritual?

Write out the line-up card first thing in morning

Best advice for a high school athlete:

Enjoy your time in high school. Play because you love the game and love to be with your teammates and brothers. Do not play for anyone else, to earn scholarships or awards. Play because you love to play. I coach because….. I believe that is what God has called me to do to impact young men.

Freshmen Coaches

Coach Mike McLaughlin

Coach McLaughlin is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and pilot. He currently teaches AP Physics and Geometry at Regis Jesuit High School and has coached high school baseball for five years. He previously coached multiple seasons of youth baseball, basketball, and soccer. Coaching philosophy: Coaching is leading and teaching. I try to lead by example and to serve those I am blessed to lead. Favorite motivational quote: “On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory.” - General Douglas MacArthur

Favorite memory from coaching at

RJ: Fond memories are too numerous to choose just one. I’ve profoundly enjoyed the daily interaction with a group of student-athletes of exceptional character, a commitment to excellence, and a spirit of service of their fellow man. Best advice for a high school athlete: Strive for excellence in all you do – in games and in practices; on the field, and off the field. I coach because I love the game of baseball and love the opportunity to try to be a positive influence on the lives of our nation’s youth.

Coach Rey Chavarria ‘10

Coach Rey graduated from Regis Jesuit in 2010. He went and played at University of Nebraska Kearney for two years and then transferred to Colorado School of Mines. He completed his baseball career there over the next three years graduating in 2015.

Coaching Specialty: Outfield and Hitting I coach because ... I love the game of baseball and it has given me so many good friends and memories in my life. I want to be able to be a part of these kids memories as they move forward in their lives. My coaching philosophy: Play hard and have fun. Have a great

attitude and great effort. Favorite motivational quote: Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Inspirational figure: Jesus Favorite tv show: Criminal Minds Favorite music / band: Social Club Favorite professional team: Colorado Rockies Favorite professional player: Dexter Fowler Favorite food: Green Chile Favorite dessert: Cookies or Pie Favorite candy: Reese’s Big Cups

Sophomore and jv Coaches

Coach Scott Vatter (Sophomore)

Coach Scott played collegiately at UNC (Greeley) playing shortstop and second base and opened HitStreak Baseball Academy in 2006. He holds the hit streak record at UNC and thus the business name “HitStreak.” He played one summer of pro ball in Butte Montana and lives in Highlands Ranch with his three daughters (Madison, Natalie, and Macy) and his wife Emily. When he is not teaching baseball, he is normally spending time with his family or playing golf. Coaching specialty: Hitting Coaching philosophy: Teach the “WHY” Favorite motivational quote: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Harry Truman Favorite memory from coaching at RJ: Getting to the state championship game my first year in coaching. Best advice for a high school athlete: Be a leader I coach because ... I love to teach and be around the game.

Coach Jim Mann (JV)

Coaching Specialty: Hitting Instruction My coaching philosophy: Work hard and respect the game. Favorite motivational quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” I coach because ... I love the game .

Coach Nelson Mitchell (Sophomore)

Coaching Specialty: Hitting

Favorite motivational quote:

“Respect all - fear none.” I coach because ... I want to make a difference.

Coach Joe Popek (JV)

Coach Joe played College Baseball at St. Cloud State and St. Marys University. He has previously coached at St. Thomas Academy. Coaching Specialty: Pitching My coaching philosophy: Play hard, play smart. Favorite motivational quote: “Its not whether or not you get knocked down, its whether you get up.” What is your pre-game ritual? Find the newest ball in the bag! I coach because ... I love the game of baseball.

Varsity Coaches

Coach Carl Goodman

I played college baseball at Otero Junior College and the University of Northern Colorado. I have coached for over 20 years at the high school, summer club and youth levels. Coaching philosophy: To develop players to be the best they can be on and off the field.

Favorite motivational quote:

“Ultimately, being a part of a team means competing, working, living and winning and losing together.” - Steve Kerr Favorite coaching memeory: Seeing the growth of players in summer season of 2017. Pre-game ritual? Fresh new piece of bubble gum. Best advice for a high school athlete: Don’t worry about exposure and scouting. Just be good enough or work until you are. I coach because ... I love to teach and help players develop to be better on and off the field.

Coach PJ Marcely ‘07

Coach Peej graduated from RJ in 2007 and played football and baseball. The class of 2007 was the last class to know what school was like without the girls. He has coached at RJ since 2010 (longest tenured baseball coach). Head JV coach / summer 17U/18U.

Coaching Specialty: Infield/base coach Coaching philosophy: Play hard and have fun. Have a great attitude and great effort. Favorite motivational quote: “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.” - JFK Favorite memory from coaching at RJ: Too many to choose just one... Reagan Todd’s walkoff Grand Slam to send us to the state championship in ‘14, calling all of Travis Marr’s HRs beforehand, Quin Cotton’s walkoff base-clearing triple to win the conference in ‘16. Shabba Bai’s gong. Jack McIntire’s tattoo. Going undefeated (19-0) with the class of ‘17 when they were freshman. Summer 17. Sharing ice cream with Darr in Atlanta. Pregame ritual: Iced coffee!!! Best advice for a high school athlete: You get as much as you give. Be the best version of yourself and finally, don’t get a girlfriend. I coach because ... Maybe it’s because I’ve never had brothers so I have a special relationship with all my players and hope to be a positive influence in their lives.

Coach Tyler Robbins

Coach Tyler was a three year varsity starter at Cherry Creek High School. He played four years of college baseball: two years at Garden City Community College and two years at Fort Hays State University. Tyler coached for one year at both Cherry Creek High School and Mountain Vista High School. This is the 8th year coaching baseball at Regis Jesuit High School

Coaching Specialty:

Defense - infield

My coaching philosophy:

Hard-work, determination, and character lead to success.

Favorite motivational quote:

“There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, you will never have to handle the pain of disappointment.” Nick Saban Favorite memory from coaching at RJ: Our walk-off win against Pine Creek in the state playoffs. Pregame ritual: Silent prayer at the edge of the dugout before the national anthem. Best advice for a high school athlete: Work hard to be a great person, student, and baseball player and have as much fun as you can. I coach because ... I love the game and the camaraderie that comes with playing and coaching.

Coach Bruce Vaughn

Coach Vaughn has been the pitching coach at Regis Jesuit High School for four years. He was also pitching coach at University of Northern Colorado for six years, pitching coach at Regis University for two years, pitching and assistant coach at Smoky Hill for four years for their spring and summer programs, and coaching in the Colorado collegiate baseball summer league program for 12 years. Coaching Specialty: Pitching and hitting Coaching philosophy: Keep it simple and fun. Help to coach and mentor student athletes to become mentally, physically and mechanically better pitchers/hitters and most importantly people. Understand academics are the priority and baseball is secondary. Helping student athletes learn, understand, appreciate and enjoy learning the game of baseball and how it relates to real life. Favorite motivational quote: Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. & Don’t stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done. Favorite memory from coaching at RJ: Being part of winning the state championship team with a great group of players, coaches and parents. Pregame ritual: Simply close my eyes for a few moments and focus on why I love to be here. Best advice for a high school athlete: Love to learn in school and on the field to become a better person and athlete. I coach because ... I love working and being with kids to see them grow and become better people and better athletes. To be able to help and watch student athletes develop and learn to appreciate life and the game of baseball individually and as a team.