Raiders Gridiron | The Raiders Gridiron Club

The UNSW Raiders are pleased to announce Shane Dixon as there 2018 Offensive Line Coach. Shane has recently moved to Sydney from Canberra where he spent 20 years of playing and coaching in the ACT Gridiron League.

Coaching Philosophy:

There are two kinds of football attitudes – The ‘win at all cost no matter how you treat people and disrespect to all other teams’ or the ‘we play football to have some fun playing the sport we love and when we win its awesome’. I’ve played under coaches with both those kinds of attitudes and although they were both successful and won championships, believe me when I say that winning at all costs gives a hollow feeling of victory. Losing the first half of the season and fighting back with determination and trust in your team gave me a better sense of accomplishment and pride than any other coach I’ve played for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to win but football is often more than the ‘W’. It’s the guy next to you that you rely on. It’s the doing your part to help the greater good of the team. It’s the being part of a family that really makes this a great game to play in and guys to coach for. When I moved up to Sydney from Canberra, the Raiders welcomed me in and I’m happy to sit at their family table.

Coaching Experience:

• Kambah Kestrels – 1995-1998
• Erindale Titans – 2003
• Junior Astros – 2004-2007
• Tuggeranong Tornadoes (Womens) – 2012
• Gungahlin Wildcats (Womens) – 2014
• Gungahlin Wildcats – 2016

Coaching Qualification:

• Gridiron Australia – Level One Gridiron Coach

Playing Experience:

• Erindale Titans (College) – 1991
• Canberra Sabretooths – 1992-1994
• Tidbinbilla Space Cadets – 1993-1994
• Canberra Tigers – 1995-2000
• ACT Astros – 2001-2006
• Tuggeranong Tornadoes – 2006-2012
• ACT State Representative – 1996, 1998, 1999,  2001, 2003

UNSW RAIDERS OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR – The UNSW Raiders are very pleased to announce that Mark Medrano will be the Offensive Co-Ordinator for both the Men’s and Colt’s teams for the 2018 season.

Mark grew up playing Pop Warner football at the age of 8, his father was his coach for the first 5 years and was his influence to be a coach later in life.  Football was Mark’s focus in High School, and, being a quarterback he learned that he enjoyed being a leader and leading by example.  He decided to go to a smaller Division 2 College to play QB at Sonoma State University in Northern California.

It was then that he changed to the position of running back and developed a deep relationship with the weight room! He graduated with a degree in physical education and later obtained a degree in radiology technology.  Mark “found” gridiron in Australia while watching the 1986 Superbowl in Noosa and his 3 month surfing vacation turned into 14 years living in Australia.

Coaching Philosophy: Lead By Example… FAMILY!!!!!

Coaching experience:
USA

• Fullerton Junior College – Fullerton California 1984-85
• Lowell High School – La Habra California 1984
• Immaculate High School – Danbury, Connecticut 2005-2011
• Danbury High School – Danbury, Connecticut 2011-2015

Australia

• UNSW Raiders 2017 to present
• West Sydney Pirates 1994-1998
• Ryde Spartans 1991
• Hills District Eagles 1988-1990
• Bondi Radiers 1986-1988
• NSW State Team