Scripps Ranch’s Winning Duo: Gardinera and Taylor Built More Than a Football Team

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Scripps Ranch head football coach Marlon Gardinera and offensive coordinator John Taylor are one of the most successful coaching duos San Diego football has ever seen. With Gardinera retiring at the end of the 2025 season, they can reflect on everything they’ve accomplished together.

Giving Scripps Ranch its first winning seasons since 2013, multiple first-place conference finishes, a 2019 sectional runner-up, and, most importantly, a 2021 CIF Division 2-A state championship.

Despite all of these achievements on the field, it’s the principles they’ve instilled in their players that they are most proud of — principles that Taylor will continue to preach when he takes over the head coaching role next year.

“Hard work, commitment, discipline, accountability, learning how to deal with adversity, learning how to compete, and winning,” said Gardinera. “If you do those things, you will be successful. That has been the foundation of everything.”

Gardinera never starred as a football player growing up; instead, he played Division I baseball.

Football experience isn’t what he depends on, though. Gardinera uses his passion for leading and motivating young athletes to teach his teams what it takes to be successful in life.

“When I interviewed to be head coach, all I talked about was grades and character, and what football could do for young men,” said Gardinera.

While he’s been the driving force behind the team’s culture and structure, the 2021 Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year gives most of the logistical credit to his successor, Taylor.

“He’s been the architect behind the football,” said Gardinera.

He recalled his interview with Taylor in 2018. Scripps Ranch had just finished a grueling 2–8 season, and hope for a turnaround was fading fast. Taylor, who was looking to come over from Mira Mesa, arrived at the meeting with a full binder on the Scripps Ranch offense.

“I learned more about our offense in that meeting,” explained Gardinera, “than I knew about our offense that entire year.”

In Taylor’s first season, Scripps improved to six wins, then exploded to 12 wins in his second.

The charismatic, powerful voice of Gardinera and the strategic, football-savvy mind of Taylor have proven to be a match made in heaven. The glue that keeps the whole operation together, however, is their shared commitment to building up the students they coach.

The duo believes that encouraging players to work hard in the classroom, treat others with respect, and push through adversity will naturally translate to on-field success.

They aren’t worried about where, or if, their athletes play in college. They’re focused on which of those traits their players carry with them after high school.

The Scripps Ranch coaches don’t just preach — they lead by example.

Gardinera was diagnosed with Amyloidosis in 2007, a disease in which proteins in the body mutate and disrupt organ function.

Despite being told he had 12 to 24 months to live, he persevered. Now, 18 years later, he has had a liver transplant, donated his own liver, coached both of his children and is looking forward to spending more time with his wife after retirement.

“My kids are in college; they are set for life,” said Gardinera. “My wife should get the same time, focus, and commitment that my sons did.”

As for Taylor, he has battled his own share of adversity. He was an excellent wrestler growing up and even made it to the college level, but his career was cut short by a car accident.

Instead of wallowing, Taylor pushed forward, serving in the Marines for seven years after college. Following his time in the military, he became a teacher in San Diego — his first chance to directly impact others and his pathway into high school coaching.

“I got into coaching to change lives,” said Taylor.

His next hurdle—the transition from being the brains behind the operation to the face of the team—will be an adjustment.

“My attention never strayed from success on the field. I did not worry about uniforms or class schedules; I worried about getting ready for Friday,” explained Taylor.

Still, he’s up for the challenge. Taylor already has the football IQ, leadership skills, and coaching experience to guide the program.

Now, it’s about making a smooth transition and becoming a voice that can lead Scripps Ranch to another championship. One thing is for certain: Gardinera wouldn’t hand over the keys to just anyone. He knows Taylor is the man for the job.

“As for the quality of the product, the message, and the importance of the kids — nothing has changed. This guy’s better than me, absolutely,” Gardinera said.