Women's Basketball

Michael Hootner, who played for Mesa College (CA) from 1988-1990, begins his fifth year as the Lady Olympian Head Coach.

A fiery competitor and a dreamer himself, Coach Hootner demands that his players have a passion for the game and aren't afraid to dream. “I want these women to dream big,” said Coach Hootner. “In order to make those dreams come true, they have to be disciplined in the classroom, in their personal lives, and on the hardwood,” concluded Coach Hootner.

In Hootner's first twelve years at the community college level, he is very proud of the many players he has helped continue their academic goals and playing careers at the 4-year level, including nine alone during his first four years on the women's side.

Some of these schools include, UC-Irvine, Cal Berkeley, Presbyterian, Liberty University, Cal State Dominguez, San Diego Christian, Susquehanna University, Polytechnic, Lehman College, East Central University, Holy Names, Fresno Pacific, Midwestern State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Utah State, Colorado State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cumberland College, St. Mary's of Kansas, and the University of Regina. While at Mesa, Hootner has coached two dozen All-Conference players, including nine 1st-Team All-Conference selections.

Coach Hootner has also been a pioneer during his time at Mesa with regards to using the latest technology to help better market his student-athletes, the program, and Mesa College. Hootner decided in 2007 that he wanted to use the power of the internet to get information out to the masses. And that is exactly what he has done.

Hootner has used www.Facebook.com, www.Twitter.com, www.viddler.com, www.veoh.com and most recently, www.justin.tv/mhootner. The latter is used to broadcast all home and away games live on the internet, for free. Viddler and Veoh have several unedited, digital, full games saved online for anyone to view at anytime.

“These (free) services have taken our program to a completely new level,” said Coach Hootner. “We have been able to market our players and the program in a whole new way and we feel this has given our players and the program an edge when it comes to helping players try and earn scholarships as well as with recruiting,” added Coach Hootner. This model has also helped the players and the coaching staff save time, money, and allow everyone to focus their energies on other things while still getting the most important information out to everyone instantaneously,” concluded Coach Hootner.

Coach Hootner has also helped many high school and college coaches use these services to help their programs. “It's always about the student-athletes,” said Coach Hootner. “So, anything we can do to help these young women live their dreams, even if they are from our rivals, we are going to do whatever we can to help them,” concluded Coach Hootner.

Prior to becoming the Head Women's Basketball Coach, Hootner spent eight years as the Associate Head Men's Basketball coach at Mesa under the tutelage of Head Coach Ed Helscher. From 2004-08, Coach Hootner also served as the Assistant Men's Tennis Coach.

Prior to returning to Mesa in 1999, Hootner served as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Goucher College (MD) from 1994-1999. During Hootner's five years at Goucher, the Gophers went 100-38 while advancing to the NCAA Division III National Tournament three times, including three conference championships.

In Hootner's final three campaigns, the Gophers had back-to-back-to-back 20 win seasons by going 23-6, 20-7 and 23-5. The final year resulted in a school record for most wins and fewest losses. Hootner also coached three regional All-Americans and three Conference Players-of-the-Year.

In addition to his basketball responsibilities, Hootner also served as the Head Men's Tennis Coach for three years and Intramural Director for five. During his three year stint as tennis coach, Hootner led his team to 12-6 and 16-3 records during his final two years. The 16-3 record, a school record for most wins and fewest losses, included a team regional #11 ranking.

Hootner's coaching career began in 1992 at Frostburg State University (MD), where he spent two full campaigns with the Bobcats. Hootner's teams went 17-12 and 14-12 during those two years while advancing to the ECAC Championship during the 1992-1993 campaign.

Coach Hootner has also worked and directed several summer basketball camps including the Philadelphia 76ers, Metro-Index All-Stars, Syracuse University, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Mike Dunleavy, University of California at Irvine, George Lynch, the Nike All-Star Basketball Camp and several high school camps.

Following his two-year stint as a player at Mesa, Hootner transferred to Goucher College to play on the first team in the history of the program. Hootner averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists per contest in route to being named the first team ‘MVP' in school history.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Hootner is also the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Mesa while teaching Health, Online Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science classes at Mesa College and Grossmont College. In 2009, 2010, and 2011, his tennis teams have won back-to-back-to-back Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) titles while winning 27 consecutive PCAC matches, dating back to 2008.

Hootner earned his A.A. degree in Journalism from Mesa College, his B.A. in Communication from Goucher College and his Master's Degree in Health and Physical Education from Frostburg State University.

Hootner resides in San Diego and is engaged to Heather Kiley. They have a daughter, Emelia Kiley. Hootner also has a stepson, Ethan Simley Jr.

Coach Bruton, who begins his fifth year on Coach Hootner's staff brings a wealth of knowledge to the players, on and off the court. Bruton, who owns his own marketing firm, currently works with high profile professional athletes in the NBA and NFL, as well as a number of corporate businesses such as Fatheads/LLC.

Prior to starting his own company, Bruton worked for The Upper Deck Company where he was the Vice President of Marketing.  During his time with Upper Deck, Bruton's marketing team managed exclusively the image, likeness and signature for Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tiger Woods.

Despite having a great deal of success off the court, Bruton wanted to give something back to a sport he loves and played in college. “I wanted to give back to this wonderful game that has been so good to me over the years,” said Bruton.  “I love college basketball and hope I can share some of the lessons that I have learned along the way with our student-athletes.”

After playing scholastically at St. Laurence High School in Chicago, Bruton went on to play varsity basketball at St. Mary's University from 1981-1983, as well as for Ealing College in London, England, in 1984, where his team won the International Sports Tournament in Paris, France.

Coach Bruton was an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach here at Mesa from 2002-2004. This is where he and Coach Hootner first met. “I'm very lucky that I was able to start this journey with Dan. He's made me a better person, a better coach and been instrumental in helping turn the program around,” said Coach Hootner. “Coach D. is a tremendous teacher of the game and a wonderful communicator,” concluded Coach Hootner.

Prior to his arrival at Mesa, Dan coached at University High School in Chicago, Illinois, during the 1998-1999 campaign, where the Lady Maroons finished 18-6, including a League Championship.

Bruton is a graduate of St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Management in 1985. He later went on to earn a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Loyola of Chicago in 1987.  

Bruton, a Chicago native, currently makes his home here in San Diego with his wife, Kathy.  They are expecting their first child in November.

Patty Medina will begin her first year as an Assistant Coach for the San Diego Mesa Community College Lady Olympian women's basketball program.

Coach Medina will serve in a number of different capacities for Coach Hootner including but not limited to, Recruiting Coordinator, Travel Coordinator, fundraising, pre, in-season, and post season conditioning, academic advisor and player development.

Medina is in her second collegiate assignment as an assistant coach having volunteered for Southwestern Community College (Chula Vista, CA)during the 2010-2011 season. She helped the Jaguars earn their first Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Title in over a decade which included a trip to the State Playoffs.

Prior to stint at Southwestern, Medina spent six years as an Assistant Varsity Coach and Head Junior Varsity Coach at Sweetwater High School (San Diego) under the tutelage of Heather Huckaby.

During that time, the school earned it's first League Championship in 15 years while hosting it's first C.I.F. playoff home game in the 35-year history of the school.

Medina played scholastically at Chula Vista High School where she graduated in 2003. She went on to play at Dominican University's for one season before returning to San Diego in 2004 to begin her coaching career.

She enjoys playing in adult recreational basketball leagues around the city in her free time. Coach Medina earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 2009 from San Diego State University. Medina will earn her Master's Degree in Education from National University in the winter of 2011.

Medina is single and lives in San Diego with her son, Jahlani.