Bio

With over eighteen years as the Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at San Diego Miramar College Nick Gehler has had his hand in building the athletic department from the ground up.  As full professor, Nick’s expertise lies in Health Education, Exercise Science, and Intercollegiate Athletics. 

Design and Build

In the summer of 2005 Nick was hired on to develop and implement a full-scale intercollegiate athletics department.  In the early 2000’s the San Diego Community College District passed bond measures to design and build facilities throughout the district.  Miramar College was a major beneficiary of this bond measure as new athletic facilities were on the docket.  Gehler wasted no time as he was instrumental in the design and development of the academic and athletic facilities for the Exercise Science and Intercollegiate Athletic Departments.  Once these facilities were complete Gehler had his eyes on coaches, staff, and choosing sport-specific training equipment with his long-term vision in mind.  Nick developed these programs to fit the needs of the students and student-athletes in conjunction with the college’s mission statement.

Fieldhouse

Athletic Training Room

Yoga Studio

Athletic Locker Rooms

Outdoor Beaver Fit Locker

Fitness Center

Athletic Performance Center

Beach Volleyball Courts

Building the Intercollegiate Teams

Gehler immediately started developing and implementing a culture of excellence.  With his long-term plan built on multiple short and long-term goals the department began to flourish.  The men’s and women’s water polo teams saw a complete overhaul developing new chemistry, bringing in new coaches, and implementing a new academic regiment.

In the fall of 2005, Gehler petitioned the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference to start an intercollegiate men’s basketball team.  With many years of head coaching experience at the collegiate level, Gehler led the men’s basketball team in the inaugural season (2006).

In the fall of 2006 Gehler again petitioned the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference to start a women’s soccer program to begin in the fall of 2007.  Nick Gehler tabbed local standout and former professional soccer player Sean Bowers to spearhead the program.  Sean led the team to state recognition winning multiple Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championships and coach of the year honors.

In the spring of 2014, Gehler headed back to the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference and presented the plan to start a men’s volleyball program to compete in the spring of 2015.  The conference gave Gehler and Miramar College the go-ahead.  Gehler appointed the highly successful John Landicho to lead the men’s team.  In just a couple of years, Landicho brought home the PCAC Championship and coach of the year honors.

Women’s Volleyball certainly was in the plans as Gehler once again made his case to start a women’s volleyball program.  In the fall of 2018, the women saw their first competitive action led by long-time San Diego coach Mark Smith.  Mark hit the court running and was able to recruit a solid team that has been more competitive each season.

In the fall of 2020, Nick began his quest to start a women’s beach volleyball program.  The PCAC warmly welcomed the Lady Jets which is coached by long-time local coach Nancy Ros.  Beach volleyball saw its first action in the spring of 2023 and had a pair of student-athletes make it to the 3C2A State Tournament in the inaugural season.    

Men’s Basketball

The 2022-2023 season saw the Jets men’s basketball team score its most successful in the history of the program.  The Jets racked up an impressive 25-4 (College best) record, winning back-to-back Don Gehler Memorial; Tournaments, and a Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Title.  Deservingly so, this success landed Alex Mirhosseini, Michael Batchelor, and Jakob Milling all on the First Team All Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.  Jakob Milling was also the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year and California Community College All-State.  Nick was named the Coach of the Year respectfully.  The championship season helped propel several student-athletes on to four year institutions to continue their academic and athletic careers.

No stranger to building programs Gehler quickly developed the JETS into a state power.  In only their third season (2008-2009) Gehler led the JETS to a 23-8 record (12 wins in a row) and a regional playoff win at Fullerton College.  The Jets then went on the road for a regional final (Sweet Sixteen) showdown. San Diego Miramar College garnered multiple awards this season.  One major award was the first All-State selection in the college’s history going to local product Pat Eveland.

The 2021-2022 season was another great year for the Jets.  The Jets were once again amongst the top in the PCAC, winning the Don Gehler Memorial Tournament, several key wins throughout the season, as well as another state tournament appearance.  The Jets hosted Saddleback College in the first round and pulled out a very close and well-fought game.  The Jets then traveled to top-ranked West Los Angeles for a showdown.  The Jets battled for most of the game yet fell short.  The success of the team saw Cameron Barry, Jakob Milling, and Alex Mirhosseini earn top honors throughout the conference.  Cameron Barry was named to the All-State Team as well.  This season also saw one of the highest accolades in California Community College Athletics awards go to Miramar College standout Cameron Barry.  Cameron was voted the 3C2A Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for his academic and athletic accomplishments.  There have only been a handful of student-athletes in the history of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference to achieve this award. 

2019-2020 a season that was mauled by injuries…Gehler states “I have never had a season that saw so many injuries and had so many players out for long periods of time”.  This certainly was the theme of the 2019-2020 season.  What started out to be very promising quickly turned into a triage moment.  Damien Miller a returning First team All PCAC selection injured his should and missed all of training camp and multiple games during the season.  Cole Cummings the lone 6-7 stretch four-man broke his foot early on and was lost for the year.  Several other players were lost and one point or another for various injuries as the season went on.  Nonetheless, the team rallied behind two first-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference players in Micheal Tate Jr. and Cameron Barry.  Both of these players carried a major load as we saw huge wins throughout the season.  Miramar College knocked off top-ranked Southwestern College mid-way through the season in the Cuyamaca Tournament as well as knocked conference foe Mira Costa College out of the state playoffs.  

The 2018-2019 saw the JETS win the Don Gehler Memorial Tournament and a trip to the California Community College Men’s State Basketball Tournament.  This year’s team saw huge wins against state power Saddleback College as well as a big home win against Mt. San Jacinto College.  The Jets would make an eight-hour trip to play Allan Hancock College where the JETS missed a close-in shot to close out the game.  The team would see Blake Seits accept a full-ride scholarship to California State University, San Marcos as well as Blake being named to the All-State Academic Team.  Several players would matriculate on to four-year institutions to continue their academic and athletic careers (Jerry Mbamo-UCSD, Cole Cummings-Sonoma State University, Kobe Gatti-UCLA, Felix Jenn-Ohio University, Brannon Bell-San Diego State University, and Rian Narra-Saint Katherine’s University.

The 2017-2018 season was another outstanding one.  The Jets won twenty games while losing just ten.  This 2017-18 season marked the Jets consecutive twenty-win season.  The 2017-2018 team made the California Community College Men’s Basketball State Tournament and opened with a home win against West Los Angeles College.  Miramar had a tremendous showing with a 107 to 84 victory with multiple players in double figures.  Miramar would then travel to top-ranked Citrus College where the Jets saw their season come to an end with a 99 to 72 loss.  Miramar had several players win ALL PCAC honors.  Deion Alston and Takoda Browne were nominated to the 1^st Team.   Chris Jones was nominated 2nd Team, and Dallas Haupt and Blake Seits Honorable Mention.

The 2016-2017 was one of the most successful seasons for Coach Gehler and the Jets.  The Jest won 21 games and lost 9.  The Jets made the California Community College Men’s Basketball State Tournament and hosted Barstow Community College in the first round.  The Jets had some big program wins beating Mt. San Jacinto, San Bernardino Valley, and making the finals in several pre-season tournaments.  The team was led by All-State Honorable Mention and First Team ALL PCAC selection Javan Perry who was arguably one of the top players in the State of California.  Freshman Takoda Browne carried a large part of the load earning First Team All PCAC honors while Marc Williams and Chris Jones were Honorable Mention All PCAC respectively. 

The 2015-2016 season ended on a positive note with Jonny Peterson being accepted to Texas Christian University, and Brice Robell continuing his academic and athletic career at Multnomah University.  Brice was also named the San Diego Miramar College Male Student-Athlete of the Year.  The season did see its challenging times with multiple injuries.  Most of the season saw the JETS playing with a limited roster yet managed to take home the Consolation Championship beating Palomar College at the Santa Barbara College Tournament.  The JETS also had three All Pacific Coast Athletic Conference members with Stefan Zivkovic and Marc Williams taking home All Second Team honors, and DeeJay Brown being named to the Honorable Mention Team.

The 2014-2015 season was a tremendous success.  The Jets beat several ranked teams including conference foe Southwestern College.  The Jets also tallied some key wins against Chaffey College as well as Riverside College.  These two teams are perennial state powers.  The Jets ended the season winning seven out of their last nine games.  The Jets saw Drew Peterson matriculate on to play basketball at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Michael Mensah-Jones to Whittier College.

The 2013-2014 season was another exciting season as the Jets earned a spot in the championship game of the 2^nd Annual Don Gehler Memorial Tournament where they battled Victor Valley College.  The Jets were extremely competitive this season with wins coming at Palomar College and a clean sweep of defending PCAC Champion Mira Costa College.  As a result of the Jets success the team had one first-team all-conference player, two second-team all-conference players, and one honorable mention player.

The 2012-2013 season was the first year of the Don Gehler Memorial Tournament with an opening-round tip-in win at the buzzer for the Jets.  The Jets would go on and have a very successful season with a double overtime win at district-rival San Diego City and an overtime win at district-rival San Diego Mesa.  The 2012-2013 season ended with the Jets winning seven out of their last nine games and one win shy of the state playoffs.  This season also had all five sophomores move onto four-year colleges and three of the five receiving scholarships. 

The 2011-2012 season was an exciting season with back-to-back wins against a district rival, a couple of buzzer-beaters, two freshmen earning all-conference awards, and two sophomores earning scholarships to four-year universities.

The 2010-2011 season ended on another exciting note with the Jets defeating their district rival Mesa College.  Coach Gehler also saw four of his sophomores and one freshman matriculate onto four-year colleges.

The 2009-2010 campaign celebrated another successful year and back-to-back state playoff appearances.  The Jets won 12 out of 14 games down the stretch and were one of the toughest teams in the southern section.

Focus on Academics

Gehler developed and implemented the first academic study hall at San Diego Miramar College for all athletes.  Athletes are required to attend a minimum of four hours of study hall each week as well as weekly check-ins with their athletic academic counselor.  Gehler was instrumental in the purchasing of computers, securing an academic study hall room, as well as a monitoring system for all sports. 

Gehler has seen multiple student-athletes earn All-Academic Awards and California Community College Athletic Association All-Academic Awards.

Inspiring Excellence and Next Level Preparation

Coach Gehler’s leadership and accomplishments span several decades and he has motivated many former JETS to accomplishments rarely seen at the community college level.

Coach has mentored, developed, and tutored many players who have matriculated to the four-year level.

Miramar has been a fixture in the state playoff system and has been ranked consistently in the California Community College Men’s Basketball Association state poll.

Prior to San Diego Miramar College

One does not have to look very far to see where Coach Gehler gets his leadership, teaching, and coaching style.  Nick is the son of Don and Chris Gehler.  Nick’s Dad, Don, was a career U.S. Army Officer and Vietnam Veteran.  The values, integrity, and faith were well taught at home by Don and Chris. 

From 2000-2005 Coach Gehler was the head coach at Imperial Valley College.  He spent five years rebuilding a program that would see a berth in the CCCAA State Playoffs. 

Prior to Imperial Valley College Coach Gehler worked for Head Coach Pat Douglass at the University of California, Irvine.

Prior to working at UCI Coach Gehler spent five seasons assisting CCCMBCA Hall-of-Fame Coach Clete Adelman at Mira Costa College.  The Spartans were a perennial power winning multiple conference championships in those five years.

Family

Nick and his wife Tara are the proud parents of four children Bailey, Charlie, Samantha, and Maggie.