COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘99: THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES : Shaughnessy Working for a Rustler Rally : In fourth season, Golden West football coach hopes he can push struggling program in a positive direction.

Mike Shaughnessy is about to start his fourth year as Golden West College’s football coach, a position he never sought.

It took a series of unique events to put Shaughnessy in charge of the Rustler program.

“I’m doing the job because I want to help the players have some success,” Shaughnessy said. “I’m not trying to advance [to the four-year level]. I’m hoping I can make them realize the importance of an education and what that can do for them. That’s a challenge these days.”

But there have been other challenges, on and off the field.

Golden West is 4-26 in the last three seasons and coming off an 0-10 campaign in which the Rustlers gave up an average of 50 points and scored an average of 15.

There also has been coaching turmoil.

The trouble started on the eve of the 1994 season when Ray Shackleford, who started the program and was the coach for the first 29 years, was forced by administrators to resign effective the end of that season.

Dennis Dixon, who replaced Shackleford, stepped down after one year because of poor health, and leadership of the program fell to Shaughnessy in the spring of 1996.

Dixon died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in January 1998.

“I think [Shaughnessy] took over the program in the worst possible situation,” Athletic Director Albert Gasparian said. “He’s had a tough time getting it going, but I think we’re taking some positive steps.”

Shaughnessy was well aware of the challenges when he took over. But he also felt a responsibility to the college, since it was there he had been given his big break.

Shaughnessy played wide receiver for Golden West in 1970-71 then played two more years at California.

He was an assistant at El Modena High and then Chaffey College before being hired at Golden West in 1979 to coach wide receivers and tight ends.

“We work hard so [the players] can have a positive experience as student-athletes,” Shaughnessy said. “When you go 0-10, you see the disappointment in their eyes week after week and the frustration mounts and builds. That’s what bothers me and that was the hardest part for me.”

But Shaughnessy isn’t backing away from the problem.

He and his staff, which includes the addition of former Rustler standout Joe Hay and the return of long-time assistant Don Rowe, both on defense, made their hardest recruiting push.

Such moves are a result of Shaughnessy finding he has a taste for being a head coach.

“I’ve always been a really accountable person and been willing to step up to the plate,” Shaughnessy said. “There are some people I know who are driven and they know they want to be a head coach.

“One part of me wonders what’s wrong with me because I didn’t have that drive, but another part of me says that’s OK because I know I can do a good job.”

But coaching the Golden West football team is hardly the only thing Shaughnessy, 47, is doing with his time. He and his wife Gabriella are also busy raising sons Patrick (5) and Kevin (4) and daughter Kelly (3).

Such things take a man of extraordinary talents when it comes to budgeting time. It also takes a man who knows his priorities.

“It’s not that hard,” Shaughnessy said, “I’m not willing to sacrifice my family for that old-school mentality that you have to work 1,000 hours a week. I don’t believe in that. Plus, I’ve got an awesome wife and three wonderful kids and I make as much time as possible for them without short-changing the program.”

Shaughnessy also gets support from close friends, including former Saddleback football coach Bill Cunerty. They have been friends for more than 20 years.

“I enjoy his enthusiasm,” Cunerty said. “He intensely cares about the kids he coaches. . . . He’s very creative and very organized. I know I can count on him for anything.”