Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. With an enrollment of 2,100 students (Fall 2013) Mater Dei High School is one of the largest Catholic high schools in the United States. Mater Dei High School offers a comprehensive academic program in college prep, honors and Advanced Placement courses. Mater Dei High School is also known for its highly successful athletic programs, especially boys basketball, football, baseball and water polo. During the last decade, Mater Dei's Varsity sports teams have captured 28 CIF, 7 state and 2 national championships.
Mater Dei High School first opened in September 1950 with 111 students. During that first year, a statue of Mary, Mater Dei was presented to the school by the Young Ladies Institute. It was placed in the school's main courtyard, the Grotto, where it remains today.
The first principal was Father Joseph L. Eyraud, who supervised a faculty of seven, including the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first graduating class chose the lion as the mascot, and it was decided that the school mascot should be called the "Monarchs" and wear red and gray.
In the 1960s, the school had an enrollment of 2,150, making Mater Dei the largest Catholic high school west of Chicago.
In 1998, under the direction of then Principal Patrick Murphy and Rector Fr. Steve Sallot, the architectural firm of PJHM/MKA began a long process of designing a new master plan for entire campus. Capital campaign improvements to the campus include:
The Gorden & Gail Lee Family Chapel & Campus Ministry Center
New parking lot (formerly Baker Street)
The Armona Guidance & Counseling Center
The Muth Family Learning Center
A science wing with state-of-the-art lab/lecture rooms
The Josef D'Heygers Academic Services Clocktower
The Reed & Angela LeVecke Student Activities Center
The Carol Ann LaRosa ASB Center
The Shamrock Plaza (named by the John O'Connor Family)
A new visual arts complex and faculty services center
The Meruelo Athletic Center
Ward Family Fitness Center
Andry Golf Practice Facility
Lyon Homes Aquatics Center
The Rod Dedeaux Baseball Complex at Joe O'Hara Field
The Rick Muth Track
Field Turf fields
Through involvement in either performing or visual arts, students at Mater Dei High School have avenues of creativity in and out of the classroom.
The Performing Arts Department includes comprehensive Choral and Hand-bell, Instrumental, Theatre, Dance, and Pep programs.
The Visual Arts Program offers an array of classes for beginning, intermediate and advanced artists in various mediums including pencil, paints, ceramics, photography and graphic design.
Mater Dei High School offers 21 CIF-sanctioned sports, ranging from football to tennis to water polo. The school's athletic teams are named after the Monarch lion. Mater Dei High School was ranked #1 by ESPN Rise & Max Preps.com and #2 by Sports Illustrated on its "Best High School Athletic Programs" list.
The school has two Heisman Trophy winners in school history
25 student athletes from the Class of 2013 signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in collegiate athletics
Since Gary McKnight began coaching the Monarch's varsity basketball team in 1983, the Monarchs have won 28 league titles (23 consecutive), 21 CIF Southern-Section championships, 12 Southern California regional titles, and, in a record 12 appearances, tied the state-title record with 8 CIF state championships. On January 18, 2010, McKnight won his 844th game, breaking the state High School Basketball Wins record previously held by Mike Phelps (Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland and St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda). As of the 2010–2011 season, McKnight is the winningest high school varsity basketball coach in state history with a record of 892-81.
The football program is described as a powerhouse with a strong reputation and a huge attendance. It has been recognized for following innovative concussion prevention and treatment programs. Coach Rollinson led the Monarchs to achieve a #1 ranking in the Nation (ranked by USA Today) two times, in both the 1994 and 1996 seasons. The "holy war" rivalry between Mater Dei and Servite was named the #1 high school rivalry in California by USA today, with Mater Dei leading at 36-15-2 (2013).
The water polo team, led by Coach Chris Segesman, has dominated Southern California Water Polo in recent years. The team had a 105-game win streak in 2013, in addition to winning 6 CIF championships in the last 9 years. In 2016, three Mater dei water polo players, Bret Bonanni (2011), McQuin Baron (2013), and Thomas Dunstan (2016) were selected for the US Olympic team competing in Rio. Mater Dei water polo is rivals with LA-area school Harvard Westlake.
Christian education is intended to "make people's faith become living, conscious and active, through the light of instruction" (The Bishop's Office in the Church, 14). Mater Dei High School is a unique setting within which this ideal can be realized in the lives of students.
100% of student body complete at least 80 hours of community service prior to graduation
Building on 60 years of experience, Mater Dei High School is rich in tradition
Alumni network of 25,000 have pursued careers in medicine, law, technology, finance, government and ministry
Active alumni association with online social networking through Facebook
Class reunions keep Monarchs connected to former classmates, faculty and their alma mater
Family events throughout the school year (the Family Mass & Pancake Breakfast, Father-Daughter Dance, Mother-Son Brunch, Grandparents Day and Marian Mass)
Matt Barkley (2009), current starting NFL quarterback for the Chicago Bears
McQuin Baron (2013), goalkeeper for United States men's national water polo team at Rio 2016
Bret Bonnani (2011), Olympian for United States men's national water polo team at Rio 2016
Jessica Bowlin (2000), winner of season 5 of The Bachelor
Colt Brennan (2002), former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins
Schea Cotton, basketball player
Thomas Duarte (2013), former college football player for UCLA and current tight end for the Miami Dolphins
LeRon Ellis (1987), former NBA power forward and center for the Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, and Los Angeles Clippers
John A. Davis (1980), creator of Jimmy Neutron
Danny Espinosa (2005), current MLB second baseman for the Los Angeles Angels
Reggie Geary (1992), former NBA guard for the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers
Tiki Ghosn (1995), defensive back on the undefeated National Championship team in 1995; professional mixed martial arts fighter, at one time competing in Strikeforce MMA, the WEC, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Matt Grootegoed (2000), former NFL linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bob Gunton (1964), actor, Star Trek: The Next Generation, 24, The Shawshank Redemption
Ashley Hartman (2003), contestant on season 2 of American Idol, Actress, "The OC"
Mike Hessman (1996), Major League Baseball player
Vince Hizon (1988), American-born former Philippine Basketball Association player
Khaled Holmes (2008), current NFL Center for the Indianapolis Colts
Mike Hopkins (1988), former NCAA basketball guard and current assistant coach at Syracuse University
John Huarte (1960), Heisman Trophy winner (1964) at Notre Dame and former NFL quarterback for the Bears, Chiefs, Eagles, Patriots, and Jets
Chris Jackson (1988), former NFL wide receiver for the Dolphins, Packers, Titans, Seahawks, & Buccaneers
Stanley Johnson (2014), NBA forward for the Detroit Pistons
Taylor King (2007), former NCAA basketball forward for Villanova University
Matt Leinart (2001), Heisman Trophy winner (2004) and former NFL quarterback
Jeff Lewis (1988), real estate agent & investor, interior designer, and star of the Bravo Channel's reality series, Flipping Out
Bobby Meacham (1978), current MLB First-Base Coach for the Houston Astros and former shortstop for the New York Yankees
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2011), former NCAA women's basketball guard for the University of Connecticut Huskies, now with the Seattle Storm
Steve Oedekerk (1978), film actor, comedian, director, editor, producer, and screenwriter; Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty
Aimee Phan (1996), literary author of We Should Never Meet and The Reeducation of Cherry Truong
Robbie Rogers (2005), current MLS winger for the Los Angeles Galaxy
Jamal Sampson (2001), former NBA forward-center for the Bucks, Lakers, Hornets, Kings, and Nuggets
Katie Lou Samuelson (2015), current guard/forward for the University of Connecticut Huskies
Sergio Santos (2002), current MLB relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
Miles Simon (1994), current NCAA basketball analyst for ESPN and former NBA guard for the Orlando Magic
Jaime Soto (1974), current Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento
D. J. Strawberry (2003), former NBA point guard for the Phoenix Suns
Matt Treanor (1994), former MLB catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Jennifer Warnes (1965), singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer
Victory Tischler-Blue (1977), singer, film producer, director, photographer, and member of the all-girl band The Runaways
David Wear (2009), former NCAA basketball forward for the UCLA Bruins
Travis Wear (2009), current NBA Basketball forward for the New York Knicks, former NCAA Basketball forward for the UCLA Bruins
Larry Williams, NFL player
Max Wittek (2011), current NCAA football quarterback for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Greg Woepse silver medalist at the 1979 Pan Am Games in the pole vault
Juan Zarate (1989), former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism during the Bush Administration
