2021 proved to be another year impacted by COVID-19 but the shortened season, which again would have no post-season, saw the Dons finish in 2^nd place in the Orange Empire Conference.  The year was highlighted by Josh Haley, Nick Lopez, Cedrick Perez and Griffin Selby earning First Team All-Conference honors.  Nick Lopez, who is moving on to play at the University of Southern California, also went on to be named An All-American.  In total, the Dons matriculated 17 players on to the 4-year level to continue their playing careers.  Nine of the Dons will be continuing at the Division I level, including Grant Newton to Auburn University, Knolton Clark to University of Kansas, Dane Baker to the University of Utah, Shane Carey to Cal State Northridge and James Williams to UC Davis.  Five other members of the 2021 campaign would sign with Division II universities highlighted by Cole Samuels to Point Loma Nazarene University, Marcus Johnson to the University of Texas—Permian Basin and Micah Pietila-Wiggs to Central Missiouri University.

In Nilles’ fifth season at the helm, the Dons returned to one of the top programs in the state.  Santa Ana College finished the 2020 campaign ranked as high as No. 1 (The JBB Rankings) when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season after 22 games. The Dons started the year 2-1 before rattling off 10 straight wins and ultimately ending the season at 18-4 and the most wins in Southern California.   2020 saw four Division I signs with Grant Askins heading to Nicholls State University, Copper Hansen set to attend Lamar University and both Josh Haley and Kyle Hoskins moving on to CSUN.  In total seven Dons received scholarships to continue to play baseball and finish their academics.

The 2019 Dons clinched a 9 seed in the state tournament and a conference finish of 3^rd place.  The 2019 campaign ended in a loss to Mt. SAC in the Regional round of the state tournament, but was valuable experience for the continued success of the program as the Dons roster was dominated by freshman.  2019 included a large amount of individual success, with six Dons, Nathan Cachu, Ray Villanueva, Frank Garcia, Copper Hansen, James Williams and Drake Wood earning All-Conference honors.  In their freshman campaigns both Williams (.373/.464/.520) and Garcia (.387/.475/.479) were honorable mentions for the All-Southern California team.  Ultimately, the Dons finished ranked 5^th in the Southern California Coaches Poll with a group of talented freshman leading the way.

The 2018 campaign proved to be a tumultuous one, plagued with injuries and one that saw the Dons qualify for the post-season, finishing 12^th in RPI in Southern California.  The year was capped by the Dons moving on four players to Division 1 schools, four others transferring to Division 2 schools and ultimately moving on all 12 of their sophomores to pursue their degrees and play baseball at the four-year university level.  Bryan Leef was a First Team All-Conference and All-Southern California selection hitting .329 with seven homeruns, 37 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases.  Leef was accompanied by Nate Flores and Andrew Martinez as first team All-Conference selections.

In 2017 the Dons finished the year 29-17 and marked the first playoff appearance for Nilles as a Head Coach.  The Dons played #3 College of the Canyons upsetting the Cougars in a three game series and heading to Orange Coast College for a Super Regional Match up.  Santa Ana beat the Pirates in game 1 behind a complete game victory by Guillermo Sanchez but proved unable to finish the task losing the next two to end the Dons season.  The Dons were able to move on four players to the Division 1 level and 10 players overall to 4-year universities.  Highlighting this class Freshmen Bryan Leef and Nigel Ward were both selected as All-Conference players, the latter of which transferred to the University of San Diego.

2016 was Nilles’ first year at the head coach at Santa Ana College, taking over a 14 win team. From the previous year.  In his first year Coach Nilles was able to guide the Dons to a 19-17 record, a group that missed the playoffs because of forfeitures by another team within the conference.  The coaching staff proved to be one of the best in player development, highlighted by Patrick Cromwell, who as a freshman hit .216 with 5 RBI under the previous regime and ended up hitting .331 with 33 RBI’s, 4 HR’s and 6 SB’s in his sophomore year before transferring to Clemson where he was a two year starter.

Prior to his appointment at Santa Ana College, Nilles was the Associate Head Coach at Fullerton College from 2010 through 2015.  Prior to his arrival Fullerton had not participated in the post-season since 1992, until the 2013 season.  Nilles was instrumental for the 2013 turn around, where the Hornets won their first ever OEC championship and had their first ever State Championship appearance that they eventually lost in the final game.  During his time there Nilles recruited and developed several draft picks including Dylan Prohoroff (8^th round), Shane Carrier (8^th Round), Laine Huffman (25^th) and Jose Rojas (36^th).  In total, Coach Nilles had part in 9 players being drafted, 57 players moving to play at the 4-year level and 17 earning Division 1 scholarships.  During his tenure, Nilles was also able to develop five All-Americans and ultimately revive a Fullerton College program back to championship status.

From the 2007 through 2009 seasons, Nilles served as an assistant coach for a Sierra College team that went 105-50 over the three years he was there.  The apex of his three seasons at Sierra College was the 2008 State Championship that also saw the Wolverines finish as runners-up in the National Champion rankings.  While Nilles was at Sierra College he aided in the matriculation of 40 student-athletes, 19 of which earned Division-I scholarships.  14 more Wolverines moved on to play Division-II baseball and five total players were drafted.  The 2008 State Championship was sandwiched by two Super-Regional berths where both seasons (2007 & 2009) ending up with a loss in the final game to move on to the Final Four.  Over Nilles’ three years at Sierra College they averaged 35 wins a season.

Before his arrival in Rocklin, CA, Nilles was an assistant coach at Diablo Valley College for the 2006 season and two years at his alma mater, Laney College in Oakland, CA for the 2004 & 2005 seasons.