Meritorious Service, Class of 2011
Roger Wilson joined the Santa Ana College (SAC) staff as a baseball coach, a counselor and a water polo coach in 1960, starting what would be a 31 year career with the Dons.
Wilson would go on to add softball coach, athletic director and dean to his list of positions. As a baseball coach, Wilson spent 14 years on the diamond including the 1967 season when he led the Dons to the Eastern Conference title while being named Eastern Conference Coach of the Year. His 14 years, and 186 wins, as a head coach are the second most in SAC history.
Wilson continued to serve as a counselor at the college before becoming the athletic director in 1981. Four years later, he became the division dean and held that position before retiring in 1991.
During his tenure as athletic director and division dean, Wilson hired fellow Hall of Famer, Dana Pagett along with Don Sneddon and Dave Ogas. Pagett led the Dons basketball team to a pair of state titles while Ogas ranks second on the football wins list to go along with three conference titles. Finally, Sneddon has won 16 conference titles, three state championships and is the all-time winningest baseball coach in California community college history.
Prior to his time at SAC, Wilson taught at Garden Grove High School and Rancho Alamitos High School. He was also the baseball coach at Rancho Alamitos.