Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)

Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California, located in and administered by the Diocese of Orange. Mater Dei is nationally known for its strong sports programs, especially in football. It is ranked first in the United States for "best high schools for athletes" by school review company Niche. In 2014, Bleacher Report ranked it in the top five high schools in the U.S. for producing professional athletes. Over 68 percent of the student body participates in some role with a team, in one of the 25 different sports sponsored by the school. Altogether they have won 90 CIF, state, and national championships. History The Archdiocese of Los Angeles opened Mater Dei in 1950, the first Catholic high school in Orange County. The school had 111 students and a faculty of seven, including Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, plus principal Fr. Joseph Eyraud. In 1953 they were joined by the Patrician Brothers, who taught until 2005. Enrollment grew rapidly. The school was originally designed for 800 students, but by 1964 was serving 1,800. In the 1970s it became the largest Catholic high school west of Chicago. Overcrowding persisted until 1987, when Santa Margarita Catholic High School opened in South Orange County. In 2000, Mater Dei embarked on a major capital campaign to fund a new parking lot, chapel, library, and service buildings, as well as a spate of athletic facilities and, in 2019, a much-needed parking garage. Controversy The school has received mixed attention in local media, due in part to scouting athletes from public high schools and offering scholarships, in order to reinforce their acclaimed football program. In 2021, a lawsuit was filed alleging that systemic hazing pervaded the football program resulting in a "brutal locker room altercation." This lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in 2023. Another 2021 lawsuit alleged that two Mater Dei football players severely injured a classmate in an orchestrated attack. Orange County bishop Kevin Vann responded with a public statement supporting the school's leadership and criticizing the "media frenzy". The school announced it would commission an independent investigation into the allegations. In January 2022, a female alumna of Mater Dei filed a lawsuit following the surfacing accusations of hazing, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a former football coach during the late 1980s. Athletics Mater Dei High School's teams are named the Monarchs, and their colors are red and grey. As of 2023, the school sponsors boys' and girls' teams at multiple levels in 25 sports in the Trinity League, part of CIF Southern Section: Baseball Basketball Beach Volleyball Cheerleading Cross-Country Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Sailing Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Water Polo Wrestling In addition, boys' beach volleyball, e-sports, equestrian, ice hockey, and surfing are offered on a club level. Known for their football and basketball programs, Mater Dei has also graduated professional athletes Robbie Rogers (soccer), Tiki Ghosn (mixed martial arts), and Greg Woepse (pole vault), as well as ten Olympians. A total of 15 players have been named Gatorade California State Players of the Year. State champions Football The Mater Dei football team plays in CIF Southern Section Division 1. They most recently won the CIF State Championship during the 2024 season, and won national championships in 1994, 1996, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023. As of 2022, three graduates have won the Heisman Trophy, John Huarte, Matt Leinart, and Bryce Young. In 2021 The New York Times cited Mater Dei's football program and that of rival St. John Bosco for making high school football look like NCAA Division I competition in terms of recruiting, training, and facilities. Notable alumni Athletics References External links Official website