Tony Nieto #15 - Varsity Head Coach
Tony Nieto enters his sixth season as the head coach of Tesoro Baseball and 22nd season overall as a head coach. In Nieto’s five seasons at Tesoro, he has guided his teams to 84 wins. The 2022 Tesoro Titans will always be remembered as the most accomplished team in the 20-year history of Tesoro Baseball. They rewrote the Tesoro record books in route to a program best 28 - 8 season, two 8-game win streaks, finishing the season with 9 consecutive wins the program's first CIF Southern Section Baseball Championship, Tesoro High School's first ever CIF State Championship, and Cal-Hi Sports State Team of the Year.
The 2023 & 2024 seasons, the Titans were crowned the South Coast League Champs, winning back-to-back league championships (first time in program history). The Titans have gone on to play in the post season, CIF playoffs in 3 of Coach Nieto’s five seasons at Tesoro.
In 2022, Coach Nieto earned his 300th win as a coach with an 8-2 win over Culver City in the CIF Playoffs; was named CIF Coach of the Year; and Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year. While at Tesoro, Nieto has coached 5 All-CIF players, a CIF Player of the Year, an All-State Player and 10 of his players have continued to play in college.
Nieto was born and raised in Southern California. He played baseball at Schurr High School in Montebello, California, where he was named to the All-Foothill League team and All-Area infielder his senior year. He then played four years at the University of Southern California and was named team captain his senior year at USC. In his four year career at USC, Nieto started at every position on the field except 2nd Base and Centerfield, until he settled in as a pitcher his senior year. In 1994, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He played 2 seasons in the Reds organization and one in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Nieto has also coached at the college level with Loyola Marymount University (2000 & 2001). At Loyola Marymount, he helped guide the Lions in the 2000 season to a 3rd consecutive West Coast Conference championship. The Lions finished the regular season ranked 10th in the nation, eventually losing in the western regional semi-final to host Cal St. Fullerton.
Nieto has had the honor of having five of his former players play in the major leagues: Anthony Reyes (Pitcher, Cal High Alumni 1999); Bill Traber (Pitcher, LMU Alumni 2000; played with the New York Yankees in 2008); Josh Whitesell (Pitcher/1B, LMU Alumni 2002; played with the Arizona D-Backs and the Washington Nationals in 2009); C.J. Wilson (Pitcher, LMU Alumni 2001); and Joc Pederson (Outfielder, Waimea Waves 2010, currently playing for the San Francisco Giants).
Nieto also coached for five summers in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. During that span, his teams reached the championship game twice. In 2009, his Waimea Waves team set the league record for the most wins in league history with a 28-12 mark.
Coach Nieto was the head coach at California High School in Whittier, California for 16 years. During his time at California HS, he finished with the most career wins as baseball coach in school history with 265. His teams won 7 league championships and made 13 trips to the CIF playoffs. In 2007 & 2008, the Condors reached the Quarter Finals in consecutive seasons; and in 2014 & 2015, they reached the Semi-Finals in consecutive seasons. In 2012 & 2015, Nieto was named the Daily News Coach of the Year. Throughout Coach Nieto’s tenure at Cal High, he coached 15 All-CIF players, 5 Players of the Year, 11 Pitchers of the Year, and has also seen 54 of his former players go on to play at the college level.
In 2019 & 2020, Coach Nieto was the pitching coach at Capistrano Valley HS. In Nieto’s first season at Capo Valley, he helped guide the team to a South Coast League Championship. His pitching staff had a season ERA of 1.70. During his time at CVHS, Coach Nieto had four of his pitchers earn scholarships and a total of 7 pitchers continue on to play at the college level.
Coach Nieto graduated from USC in 1995 with his BA in Communications and has a Masters and teaching credential in Special Education. Nieto resides in Mission Viejo with his wife Veronica (Whittier College '97; USC '16 Ed.D.) and their three sons: Noah (Cal St Fullerton ’24), Dylan (Tesoro ‘21), and Aidan (Tesoro ’26).
Moy Gonzales #28
Moy Gonzales #28
Moy Gonzales #28
Varsity Coach
Moy returns to the Titans for his sixth year in the program. Coach Moy returns for his third season as a varsity coach. He works with the infielders, catchers and runs our defense. Coach Moy did an excellent job his first three years in the program guiding and preparing the freshmen team to play at the next levels of Tesoro Baseball. He was born and raised in Southern California. He attended La Mirada High School where he was a 2-sport athlete. After graduation he joined the United States Navy where he served 6 ½ years in the elite US Submarine Force. He was Honorably Discharged, then attended Cerritos College where he played catcher and was named team captain of the Baseball team. He then transferred to USC where he played baseball for 2 years and help lead the Trojans to the NCAA College Baseball Regionals in Austin, Texas.
After playing, Moy coached baseball at La Mirada High School and St Mary’s High School. Coach Moy has volunteered and coached baseball in the local youth leagues for many years. Coach Moy has twin boys that played baseball and graduated from Tesoro, connecting him to Tesoro HS for many years. Coach Moy graduated from USC in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Sy Smaker
Moy Gonzales #28
Moy Gonzales #28
Varsity Coach
Coach Smaker has been at Tesoro since 2006 as a Speech Pathologist. He has coached basketball at Tesoro and is currently part of the Titans football coaching staff as well. Coach Smaker is from the Bay Area (Big Fan of the Giants, Niners and Warriors). He played football and basketball at Ygnacio Valley High School and went on to play football at Chico State. From there he headed to Virginia where he received his Masters at James Madison University (home of the Fighting Dukes).
Coach Smaker is in his second season on the Varsity staff working with the outfielders and coaching first base. He has been married for 26 years to his wife Carrie and has 3 boys; Caden (Tesoro Alum 2018, TCU graduate), Chase (Tesoro Alum 2020 now at Virginia Tech), and Curren (Tesoro ‘26). Coach Smaker is looking forward to see the Varsity team grow and succeed.
Martin Rodriguez
Martin Rodriguez
Martin Rodriguez
Varsity Coach
Coach Marty returns to the Varsity staff for his second year at Tesoro. He will work with our pitchers this season and be a valuable asset in the dugout during games. He began his coaching career in the early 2000’s serving as a program assistant at LB Jordan HS. From 2014-2022 he coached at Cerritos HS, he served as an assistant varsity coach, associate head coach for 3 seasons and in the fall of 2021 was named the Head Varsity Baseball Coach. His teams won 3 consecutive 605 League titles 2019-2022, having never lost a league game.
In the summer of 2023, coach Rodriguez was named head coach at LB Poly where he lead the Jackrabbits to a victory at Angel Stadium in the Halo Classic and to a 4th consecutive D2 playoff appearance.
Coach Rodriguez is a graduate of Gahr HS where he played baseball for the legendary Tom Bergeron. He has practiced Architecture for more than 2 decades. In 2023 he received his Masters in Teaching (MAT) and is currently the Engineering Pathway & IB Design Tech instructor at Sunny Hills HS in Fullerton.
Coach Rodriguez is married to his wife Cristina. They have a 5 1/2 year old son Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez. Coach also has two older children, Mariah who is a civil engineer in Indiana and Samuel who has just wrapped up his very own decorated college baseball career.
Sam Rodriguez
Martin Rodriguez
Martin Rodriguez
Varsity Coach
Coach Sam will be joining the Tesoro Baseball staff this season. He played high school baseball at South East High for former pro Freddie Tisdale. While there, he led the Jaguars to consecutive CIF Semi Final appearances and was an all-league first team and all CIF 1st team selection in both his Junior and Senior years.
After graduating from high school, Sam committed to and played baseball for D3 Hall of Fame coach Ted Shipley at Castleton University in Vermont. In 2020, during his Covid-shortened freshman year, he finished the season leading all freshmen in the Northeast region in hitting with a season ending average of .435.
Sam concluded his career at Castleton in 2021 and came back home to play two seasons for Cerritos College where he played for former big leaguers Coco Crisp and Vic Butler.
After his college career ended, Sam played for the highly renowned independent baseball development organization Zone 22 where he put his talents on display against ballplayers from all over the world including players from overseas, the Mexican Professional League and the MLB.
Sam spent his collegiate off seasons helping with the summer program at Cerritos High School. His official coaching career began in the summer of 2023 when he became the Varsity hitting and first base coach for Long Beach Poly High School. He looks forward to bringing his youthful knowledge and love for the game to Tesoro where he will work with our hitters and be a valuable asset in the dugout during game days.
Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez
Varsity Bat Boy
Benny joins the Varsity team for his first year in the baseball program. Benny was a huge pickup through the transfer portal and brings a wealth of energy to the team.
On his spare time, Benny continues to pursue his passion of playing youth baseball. Benny is a left-handed bat with gap-to-gap power and plays the games with a high level of effort & attitude.
Matthew Bull
Jr. Varsity Coach
Matthew Bull is back for his second season as part of the Tesoro Baseball coaching staff! A proud graduate of Tesoro High School’s Class of 2024, Matthew is currently attending Saddleback College, where he is pursuing a degree in Business with plans to transfer to the University of Alabama to further his education.
During his time at Tesoro, Matthew made his mark both on and off the field. Earning a spot on the Tesoro Baseball team as a freshman, he displayed his talent and love for the game throughout all four years of high school. From his first swing to his last inning, Matthew’s dedication and passion for baseball were unmistakable.
Now, he is bringing that same energy, determination, and ambition to the coaching staff, inspiring the next generation of Tesoro players while continuing to chase his academic and career dreams.
Matt Engelken
Matt Engelken
Matt Engelken
Freshman Co-Head Coach
Coach Matt returns to the staff for his third season with the Titans. Matthew was born in St. Joseph, Missouri and moved to the Central Valley of California during middle school. While attending Turlock High School, he was a 3-sport letter winner and saw CIF playoff action in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned Central California Conference All-Conference honors in baseball, and represented the 209 in the Area Code Games. As a left-handed pitcher, Matthew played four years of Division I baseball at the University of THE Pacific in Stockton, CA. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sports Management and a minor in Business. Matthew completed his teaching credential and Master’s Degree in Special Education at California State University Fullerton. This will be his 20th year in Capistrano Unified School District as an Education Specialist. He has spent many years coaching youth baseball in south Orange County. His former players have earned All-Conference Honors, All-CIF recognition, and CIF Championships at the high school level. Matt’s son Caden was a member of the Titans CIF & State Champions in 2022 and is now attending UC Santa Barbara.
Chad Nammack
Matt Engelken
Matt Engelken
Freshman Co-Head Coach
Coach Nammack returns to the Tesoro Baseball staff for his second season. Coach Chad Nammack grew up in Manhattan Beach, CA where he attended Mira Costa High School. He played 3 sports; football, basketball and baseball earning 7 Varsity letters and several All-League and All-CIF honors. In addition, he played for Andy Lopez who would later lead University of Arizona Baseball to a NCAA Championship.
He then went on to play baseball at USC and was a teammate of former Tesoro Baseball Coach Jim Campanis. There he was one of a handful of players to play for legendary college baseball coaches Rod Dedeaux and Mike Gillespie. He earned degrees in Economics and History graduating in 1989. Upon graduating, he began his coaching career and went back to school to get credentials in teaching (CUSDH ‘92) and a Masters (Azusa ‘98) in education/PE. He has worked as an assistant coach in football and baseball at Rolling Hills HS and Mira Costa HS and was in charge of catchers/bullpen at Harbor Junior College.
He then went on to be a Head Baseball Coach at Burbank, South Torrance and El Camino Junior College. His teams consistently won achieving over 200 wins, 10 playoff bids and Ocean League Coach of the year honors. He has sent numerous players to college and has 4 players with stints in MLB including MLB All-Star and batting champ Freddy Sanchez with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He and his beautiful wife Amy have been career teachers; they are both Special Ed teachers in the district at San Clemente HS and Kinoshita Elementary respectively. They share 5 kids (in and beyond high school) and they live in nearby in Dana Point. In his free time, he likes to golf, hike and ski. He is genuinely excited to help and continue the excellence of Tesoro Baseball.