Varsity Coaching Staff

Head Baseball Coach Mike Curran

Esperanza Head Coach Mike Curran and the Aztec baseball program have seen much success throughout the last 30 years. His teams have benefited from a continuity of coaching excellence that has seen them constantly at the top of Orange County baseball as well as National prominence.  His teams have captured league championships 11 times, while advancing to the CIF play-offs 22 of the past 26 seasons, six times playing all the way to the CIF finals and three times walking away as champions in 1986, 1993 & 1997.

Not only have the Aztec teams won many accolades, so has Coach Curran himself.  On April 20, 2002, Coach Curran reached a milestone with a 5-2 victory over Fountain Valley.  This was his 400th victory at Esperanza and 500th win of his career.  He was also named Orange County Coach of the Year by both L.A. Times and the Orange County Register for the 1986 season.

Coach Curran was further honored by being named Coach of the Orange County All-Star team in 1986.  He has assisted 4 times.  Coach Curran was presented with the Honorary Service Award by the California Coaches Association in 1998.  Mike was named National High School Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1998.  

Assistant Coach Al Verdun

This year Coach Al Verdun returns to the Esperanza coaching staff working with the catchers. Al comes to Esperanza with a rich history of coaching experience at the high school and college level where Al was an Assistant Coach on two state championship baseball teams. During Al's coaching tenure, he actually coached our own Mike Curran, and El Dorado's coach Steve Gullotti. As Coach Al says, "he survived the experience and lived to coach another day". One of Al's special memories was working at a convalescent hospital while living in Missouri. All has a wife, Jan of 38 years and a son Connor. Coach Al and Jan reside in Long Beach.

Junior Varsity and Freshman Coaches

Assistant Coach Ackland

Assistant Coach Marcus Jones

Marcus returns for his third season as coach of the Varsity pitching staff. Coach Jones' background includes four years at Long Beach State and six years with the Oakland Athletics. His accomplishments include Big West Pitcher of the Year (1996), All Big West Conference (1996, 1997), All CIF and All State (1993). The Aztec players are sure to benefit from his experiences and accomplishments. Marcus resides in Yorba Linda with his wife, Heather and daughter, Taylor.