Who has the most career wins among active San Diego Section high school football coaches?

Here's a look at the top 10 winningest active CIF-SDS football coaches.

The San Diego Section football playoffs are in the final stages and several of the region's top coaches have their teams in contention. Here's a look at the top 10 winningest active CIF-SDS football coaches.

(Lead photo by Josh DaFoe)

1. Rob Gilster, Valley Center

Career record: 239-137-5

At Valley Center: 176-94-2

Previous stops: Orange Glen

Gilster coached nine seasons at Orange Glen, finishing with a losing record in only one season, before heading over to Valley Center when the school opened up 1998. He's now in his 24th season at Valley Center at has led the Jaguars to five San Diego Section titles during that time. From 2004 to 2011, Gilster helped Valley Center reach the CIF championship game in seven of the eight seasons.

2. Troy Starr, Mount Miguel

Career record: 232-69-2

At Mount Miguel: 14-20

Previous stops: Taft (LA City Section), Helix

Starr led Taft to seven LA City Section Championship game appearances during his 14-year run with the Toreadors. He then joined Urban Meyer's staff at Florida for one season as the Director of Football Operations before returning to the high school game. He led Helix to five San Diego Section Championship appearances during his time with the Highlanders, winning two of them. Starr recently completed his fourth season leading Mount Miguel.

3. Ron Hamamoto, Monte Vista

Career record: 231-171-4

At Monte Vista: 54-54

Previous stops: University of San Diego HS, Rancho Bernardo, Lincoln

Hamamoto has had success at each of his four stops around the San Diego Section, leading each of the four schools to CIF Championship game appearances. He won his first title at USDHS in 1994 and guided Rancho Bernardo into the Division 1 Championship game in 2001. He lost to Cathedral Catholic and former assistant Sean Doyle while at Lincoln in 2010 and has led Monte Vista to two Division 4 Championship games, losing in 2013 and winning in 2017.

4. Sean Doyle, Cathedral Catholic/University of San Diego HS

Career record: 213-96

Doyle took over at his alma mater in 1996 when Ron Hamamoto left and took over at Rancho Bernardo and has been in charge ever since. He won two CIF titles with the Dons at their previous campus in Linda Vista before they moved in 2004 and became Cathedral Catholic. He's captured right more titles with the Dons since their move north including victories in the Open Division Championship game in 2016 and 2018.

5. Chris Hauser, Mission Hills

Career record: 181-77-2

At Mission Hills: 147-62-2

Previous stops: Vista

Hauser took over at Vista in 2000, and guided the Panthers into two CIF Championship games while winning 34 games over four seasons. Hauser departed for Mission Hills in 2004, becoming the first coach in the school's history. He's turned Mission Hills into one of the county's best and most consistent programs, finishing with a winning record in 15 of the past 16 seasons. Hauser has led the Grizzlies to five CIF Championship games, winning the first ever Open Division Championship in 2013.

6. Rick Jackson, Madison

Career record: 152-53-2

Jackson is finishing up his 18th season leading the Warhawks. During that time he's pushed the Warhawks to three San Diego Section titles, winning in 2010, 2012, and 2016. His two most recent wins have also included extended postseason runs that have resulted in CIF State Championships.

7. Thadd MacNeal, Carlsbad

Career record: 124-59

At Carlsbad: 79-44

Previous stops: Lakewood (Southern Section)

MacNeal won 45 games at Lakewood over five seasons before accepting the job at his alma mater in 2011. Now in his 11th season at Carlsbad, MacNeal has the Lancers riding a 16-game winning streak over the course of the past two seasons and into their second consecutive Open Division Championship game.

8. Jon Self, Brawley

Career record: 119-63

At Brawley: 86-37

Previous stops: Poway

Self coached Poway from 1991 to 1995, winning 33 games and leading the Titans to two CIF Championship appearances during his five seasons. He got back into the head coaching ranks in 2011, taking over at Brawley. He's had lots of success with the Wildcats, finishing with a winning record in each of his 11 seasons while capturing four Imperial Valley League titles.

9. Damon Baldwin, Ramona

Career record: 114-72-1

Baldwin first made his way to San Diego after accepting a scholarship offer to play at San Diego State out of high school. After a brief professional career and a stint coaching the Aztecs' offensive line, he accepted the head coach role at Ramona in 2005 and has been with the Bulldogs ever since. He's led Ramona to a winning record in 13 of his 17 seasons and has two San Diego Section Championship game appearances.

10. Joel Allen, Point Loma

Career record: 104-43-1

At Point Loma: 4-7

Previous stops: The Bishop's School

Allen posted huge numbers while quarterbacking Christian from 2000-2002. He took over as the head coach at Bishop's less than ten years later. He led the Knights to six CIF Championship games, winning three of them including a CIF State Championship in 2010. He departed Bishop's after the 2019 season and took over at Point Loma prior to the spring season, though a lack of available players limited the Pointers to only one game. In his first full season at Point Loma, he led them to a 4-7 record that included a berth into the Division 2 playoffs.