Fullerton College Men's Football

Crooks is in his 18th season as a Fullerton College football coach. Previously the defensive line coach, Crooks enters his seventh season as the Defensive Coordinator. Crooks helped 50 Hornet defensive linemen earn four-year scholarships five gaining JC All-American status, while coaching the defensive line in his first 11 years at Fullerton. During his 7 years as the Defensive Coordinator, the Fullerton Defense has been known as one of the best and hardest hitting in Southern California. Crooks was a standout nose guard for Fullerton College in 1993 and 1994. He weighed just 215 pounds as an interior player easily the lightest defensive lineman in the conference but that didn't stop him from be voted All-Mission Conference both seasons. He transferred to Adams State College in Colorado, added only five pounds, and earned All-Conference honors yet again. Crooks, a Cypress native, was a star in football and track at Servite High School earning All-Orange County his senior year of football. He earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton, and received his Master's and Credential in Education from National University. Crooks was hired as a full time instructor at Fullerton College in 2008, where he teaches in the Physical Education Department. Two of his younger brothers also played at Fullerton College: Chris, a tight end transferred to Sacramento State; and Jeff, a former All-Conference quarterback, transferred and played at Eastern Michigan University. Crooks and his wife Kim of seven years are happily raising their 5-year old son Austin, their 2-year old daughter Aubrey and their German Sheppard Kobe.

Coach Conrad RAD White will be going into his third season coaching cornerbacks at Fullerton college. He previously coached at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga for a year where he was Safeties/Nickels Coach & special team coordinator. Before entering the Juco coaching circuit he coached at Walnut High School and Bishop Amat Memorial High School.  Coach Rad is a Juco product himself. From 06-07 seasons he spent two years playing cornerback at Fullerton College. Where he was an All conference DB. He then earned an academic and athletic scholarship from Northern Arizona University. After finishing his career at NAU just like most he spent the following year working towards playing professionally. That never worked out so he then got into coaching right away. 

2024 will be my 8th season at Fullerton College. I coached the TE in 2017-18, OL in 2019, RB in 2020-21, and WR in 2022-23. I was also the Run Game Coordinator in 2020 & 21 & Pass Game Coordinator in 2022 & 23. I am currently the Offensive Coordinator for Fullerton College. 

Sober brings a wealth of knowledge and talent to the FC football field. Born and raised in Fullerton, Sober played football Fullerton Union High School where he was a three-time All-Leaguer and a two-time All-CIF stand out. He was also voted All-County and was the MVP of the Freeway League his senior year. A former Hornet standout on the defensive side of the ball, Sober was voted All-Conference, All-State, and All-American. After Fullerton College, Sober went on to player for New Mexico State University with a full ride scholarship where he was a two-year starter. Coach Sober successfully guided linebackers Filipo Tuala (U. of Utah), Joe Morales ('09 Ohio U.), Nick Moreno ('09 Belhaven College), AJ Pasalo (Montana State), Reid Worthington ('08 Northern Arizona), Tyler Boblit ('07 Trinity College), Ryan Hurtado ('07 Benedictine College), and Steve Downs ('07 Fresno State) to four-year colleges on scholarship.

Marino was a three-year varsity football and baseball player at Fullerton Union High School. He was named to the All-League team two seasons in a row. After high school, Marino joined the Hornet family in 2002 where he played linebacker and safety. He was a main contributor to the 2003 Mission Conference Champion team and the 2004 Golden Empire Bowl Champs. From 2006 to 2008, Marino continued his college football career at the University of La Verne. He graduated in the spring of 2009 with a bachelors degree in Sociology.  Marino hopes to bring his past football experiences and knowledge of the game to help continue Hornet Football's winning tradition.

Joining the Hornet coaching staff in 2008 as a part-time assistant coach, Phil Austin was hired in the spring of 2017 as a full-time faculty member and assistant football coach. Prior to the 2024 season, Austin was elevated to Co-Head Football Coach along with Brian Crooks. In the middle of his run with the Hornet football team, Austin spent two seasons (2012 and 2013) as the Bruin's Defensive Quality Control Coach. He worked primarily with the Bruin linebackers where he helped mentor 1st team All-American and 1st round draft pick (9th overall) Anthony Barr, NCAA Defensive player of the year (Butkis award) Eric Kendricks 1st team freshman All-American and PAC 12 freshman of the year Myles Jack. UCLA's 2013 linebacking core was considered by many to be the best in the country. Austin was also the recruiting assistant for PAC 12 Recruiter of the Year Adrian Klemm, who is considered as one of the best recruiters in the country. A former All-Westside tailback and strong safety at Saint Monica Catholic High School (Santa Monica) He was also an All-League basketball player and a CIF Track and Field Champion in the 110 High Hurdles. After graduating high school in 1995, Phil became All-Conference safety and punt returner at Pasadena City College and signed with the University of Hawaii. A two-year starter and team captain at Hawaii, Phil played corner and both safety spots, and was an All- WAC safety in 1998. In his best game for the Warriors, Austin had 18 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 PBU, and a sack on the road against The University of Utah. He played three seasons in Arena Football for the Hawaiian Islanders and San Diego Riptide. Phil coached three seasons at Santa Monica High School coaching the wide receivers and defensive backs. His team won the CIF championship in 2001. He went on to coach wide receivers at Pasadena City College for two seasons with his former coach Tom Maher Austin got his first full-time coaching job at the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport Rhode Island where he was defensive coordinator. Phil also coached as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Mater Dei High School before coming to Fullerton College. During his first part-time stint at FC (2008-2011), Phil was the running backs coach who helped guide All-Americans and Conference Players of the Year Kenny Turner (2008) and Kelvin York (2010). Since coming back to the Hornet staff as a part timer (2014-2016), Phil worked as the defensive backs coach and special coordinator, having a big impact in the team's recent National Championship title. Last season, Coach Austin was honored at halftime of the Mt San Jacinto College game on Hal Sherbeck Field by the US Marine Corps as the "Semper Fi Coach of the Year".