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PROFESSIONAL
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About Us
At oc dukes baseball, our mission is to empower players through expert coaching and mentorship. With a foundation built on professional experience, we strive to develop not just skilled athletes, but also responsible team players.
Coaches
Coach Seth Etherton:
Seth Etherton is a former standout collegiate pitcher and Major League Baseball player who built a reputation on excellence, perseverance, and deep baseball acumen. Born in Laguna Beach, California, he played at USC from 1995 to 1998, where he was a three-time All-American and named National Player of the Year in 1998, leading the Trojans to a College World Series championship. Drafted in the first round by the Anaheim Angels in 1998, Etherton went on to pitch in MLB over parts of four seasons (2000–2006), including stints with the Angels, Reds, A’s, and Royals. Beyond the majors, his professional career spanned more than a decade across multiple leagues, reflecting his commitment and love for the game.
Since his playing days, Etherton has transitioned into a highly regarded coach, bringing over a decade of experience at both the collegiate and professional levels. He began coaching at the University of San Francisco in 2013, and in 2016 joined the Cincinnati Reds organization, spending seven years developing pitchers in their minor league system — including roles with Billings, Dayton, and Triple-A Louisville. In 2022 he returned to his alma mater as USC’s pitching coach.
His coaching philosophy centers on building strong relationships, prioritizing health, and nurturing mental skills — he offers highly individualized guidance, helping players understand who they are and how to elevate their performance in a sustainable, person-first way.
Seth has coached and developed many professional, collegiate, high school and youth players. Current Major Leaguers include Tanner Bibee, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, Antonio Santillan, Ben Lively, Tyler Mahle, Fernando Cruz, Buck Farmer, Cionel Perez, and Griffin Canning.
Seth is married to Summer Etherton, and they have four amazing children.
Coach Chris Donnels
Chris Donnels graduated from South Torrance High School in 1984. Second Team All-Bay League SS 1982 & 1983. 1984 Bay League MVP & CIF Co-MVP (with Jack McDowell) set then CIF record with 56 RBI. CIF 4A Champs. COLLEGE: 1985 Loyola Marymount University. 1st-Team All-WCAC 2B Honorable mention Freshman All-American. 1986 WCAC MVP 2nd-Team All-America 3B Team played in 1986 College World Series Named to CWS All-Tournament Team. 1987 1st-Team WCAC 3B 3rd-Team All-America 3B.
Coach Donnels was drafted in 1st Round of 1987 MLB Draft by New York Mets. 1989 Florida State League MVP. 1991 AAA All-Star. On May 7, 1991 he made Major League Debut against Los Angeles Dodgers. Single and RBI in 1ST ML at-bat facing Tim Belcher. Spent 1991 and 1992 bouncing between AAA and ML with the Mets. 1993 Picked up by Florida Marlins in ML Expansion Draft. 1993 Picked up off of the waiver wire by Houston Astros. Spent 1993, 1994 and first-half of 1995 season with Houston. June 1995 traded to the Boston Red Sox. Red Sox won the East and were swept by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st-round of the playoffs. 1996 Contract sold to Kintetsu Buffaloes of Japanese Professional Baseball League. 1997-1999 Played of Orix Blue Wave of Japanese Professional League. 2000 Signed AAA contract with Los Angeles Dodgers. Named to the AAA All-Star Game. Called-up to Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2000. 2001 Los Angeles Dodgers. 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks Won West Title and were swept in 1st-round of playoffs by St. Louis Cardinals. 2003 AAA with Tuscon (Diamondbacks), Des Moines (Cubs), and Albuquerque (Marlins). 2004 AAA with Colorado Springs (Rockies). Retired at seasons end after 18 seasons in Professional Baseball.
Chris has been married to Shellie for 12 years. Shellie and Chris have 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.
Coach Terry Isles
Coach Iles moved to South Orange County in 1976 is a Dana Hills alumni and graduate of University of California, Irvine.
This is his 10th year coaching at Dana Hills, returns to varsity level after working with the Frosh for the past three and 5 years as a varsity assistant and one year of JV prior. He also coached two years as assistant Varsity/JV coach at St. Margarets Episcopal High School in San Juan Capistrano. He has coached fourteen years of youth and travel baseball teams in the area.
Coach Iles is a business owner, married twenty eight years to Dana Hills Alum Mary and proud father of two great kids, Dawson (25) and Delainey (24).
Coach Ron Payne
This is Coach Payne’s 13th year at Dana Hills. He has also coached 12 years at San Clemente High School.
Prior to Dana Hills and San Clemente, he coached all three levels at Santa Margarita Catholic School from 1989-1999 before joining the staff at Dana Hills High School from 2000-2006 where he coached on the freshman and varsity levels. During 2005-2007 he had the privilege to coach a U-14 travel ball team called the So Cal Samurai. Ten of the players went on to play D1 baseball and six have signed a professional contract. Coach Payne says "It's a privilege to coach such outstanding young men. Always remember-There's no "I" in team.
Go Dolphins!
Coach Ryan Cheo
Ryan Cheo is a former UCLA left-handed pitcher and 19th-round MLB Draft pick (SF Giants) who has been coaching and mentoring young ballplayers for over 20 years. He currently leads the 10–12U San Juan Capistrano Mavericks and serves as Director of Player Development for San Juan Capistrano Little League, where he’s helped shape hundreds of players through camps, clinics, and private instruction since 2018.
Through his business, Qualitee Reps, Ryan connects families with coaches and baseball experiences that fit both skill and character development. His coaching resume includes Capo Valley High School (Freshmen/JV, 2018–2024), Aliso Niguel HS, Capo Cats (now Puma), JSerra under Brett Kay, OCX, and video work with DugoutCaptain.com, where he produced 300+ drill videos alongside UCLA All-American Dan Keller.
Ryan believes faith, fun, and failure are all part of the game—and that fun is a skill that must be relearned at every level. “If it doesn’t bring you joy,” he tells his players, quoting Mike Trout, “then stop playing.” He sees baseball as the ultimate truth-teller—a game that teaches young men how to feel their emotions, make better decisions, and grow into who they’re meant to be.
Off the field, Ryan is the oldest of six brothers, a movie quoter, proud husband to Alyssa, and dog dad to a chocolate lab, Lucy.
Coach Gunnar McGrann
Gunnar’s playing career began in Orange County, competing at two of California’s premier high school programs. Beginning at JSerra Catholic and later transferring to Santa Margarita Catholic where he went on to win a CIF Championship in 2019. He continued his career at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, where he played two seasons before betting on himself and transferring to Dyersburg State Community College in Dyersburg Tennessee for his third year of JUCO baseball. At Dyersburg, Gunnar became a highly touted prospect and ultimately committed to the Division 1 program, Southern Illinois University in Carbondale Illinois as a shortstop. Gunnar also displayed versatility throughout his career by playing multiple positions. He brings his versatile playing experience and inspiring story to the Dukes 13U program.
Coach Garrett Broussard
Graduated from Capistrano Valley High School in Southern California in 2019. Played his college ball at Utah Valley University where he won freshman of the year in the WAC in 2020 and currently holds the record for most games played there. He played five seasons there and graduated in 2024. Signed on to play professional baseball with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier league soon after college ball ended and played two seasons with them.
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