Former Merced coach Speckman joining new football staff at UC Davis

More than two decades after Mark Speckman left Merced’s Golden Valley High School for Willamette University in Oregon, the legendary football coach is returning to California’s Central Valley.

UC Davis hired Speckman to coach running backs and to be assistant head coach, the school announced Thursday. Dan Hawkins was hired as head coach last month.

“I’m excited about it,” said Speckman, who began his coaching career at North Monterey County High School and had stops at Livingston, Gilroy, Merced and Golden Valley before leaving for the college ranks. “Dan is the guy who hired me at Willamette and I was his assistant there for three years. Then he hired me in Montreal (of the Canadian Football League).

“I’m very appreciative of Dan. He’s given me some great opportunities and we really enjoy working together.”

After Hawkins left Willamette following the 1997 season for an assistant’s position at Boise State, Speckman took over and guided the program for the next 14 years, posting an 82-59 record. He rejoined Hawkins in the CFL in 2013, and spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis.

“I loved it there, I really did,” said Speckman, a native of Belmont in the Bay Area. “Even the cold didn’t bother me much. But this is an outstanding opportunity.”

Born without hands, Speckman played college football at Azusa Pacific, where he was an honorable mention on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-America team. Speckman is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, and in 2009 he authored a book titled, “Figure It Out: How I Learned to Live in a Digital World Without Digits.”

Between 1988 and 1993, Speckman’s Merced High teams reached six Sac-Joaquin Section championship games. From 1989 to 1990, the Bears were 41-1, winning the section’s D-I title in 1989 and 1990. The ’90 squad was crowned mythical state champion by Cal-Hi Sports and is considered one of the greatest teams in the history of the Stanislaus District.

In 1994, Speckman moved across town to coach Golden Valley, then in its first year of varsity football. Though Speckman left for Willamette the following season, Golden Valley had a strong foundation, reaching the section’s D-I title game where the Cougars lost to Jesuit 21-19.

His career mark at the high school level is 113-48-3

“I spent quite a bit of time in Merced County,” said Speckman, whose mother still lives in Merced. “No doubt, I made some great friends and have great memories.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Former Merced coach Speckman joining new football staff at UC Davis."