Chuck Melendez begins his 20th season as men's golf coach in the 2020 campaign.

The Vaqueros were outstanding in 2019, finishing second in the state and setting school records for wins (146-20), WSC wins (80-8), overall win percentage (.880) and WSC win percentage (.909). They took second in conference, third in the Regional and second in the state finals at Silverado Resort in Napa. Trent Caraher placed fifth in the state to earn All-State honors.

Coach Melendez is 818-524-3 in 19 years of WSC competition.

Chuck chalked up his 500th win on Feb. 16, 2015 when his team took second in WSC No. 2 at its home course, Alisal Ranch in Solvang. The Vaqueros went 64-13 in WSC play. They also notched the best overall record in school history (115-21).

He led the 2006 men's squad to a state runner-up finish and Chris Satterlee was the No. 3 individual. In 2015, he guided the Vaquero men to fifth in the state and Brett Patton took 8th place.

The Vaqueros won the WSC title in 2009 with a 61-16 record and Chuck was named WSC Coach of the Year. They placed eighth in the State that season and a year later, they finished sixth in California.

He is a Professor of Physical Education and an eight-time WSC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year (2004, '05, '06, '08, '13, '15, '16, '17). He's served several terms as President of the California Community College Women’s Golf Coach Association.

He's guided the Vaquero women to four State titles, including 2015. In the last six years, they have two State titles, a runner-up in 2016 and two thirds. They were 90-3 in 2017 and 50-0 in the WSC. They went 99-1 in 2016 and were the State runner-up to Sierra. They went 80-6 in 2015 and won 11 tourney titles. In 2013, they were 69-3 and won the Western State Conference with a perfect 32-0 record. The other state titles came in 2006 and 2008. He's coached four State individual champions on the women's side, including Carolin Chang in 2015 and 2016.

Chuck grew up and was educated locally, attending Dos Pueblos High and Santa Barbara City College before getting Master's degrees from Eastern Oregon State & Humboldt State. He was a star athlete at all levels, participating in football and baseball. He led the 1976 Vaquero football team to the WSC championship as their quarterback. He finished his college career as one of the leading QBs in the nation at Eastern Oregon State.

Chuck joined the SBCC Physical Education and Athletic Departments in 1982 and became a head coach in 1990. He also coached football at Chadron St. (Neb.) for a year and Humboldt State for two years before returning to SBCC in 1988. He's been the head coach of four Vaquero teams -- baseball (1990-94), football (1994-2000) and men's and women's golf for the last 20 years. He's played golf all of his life and was a low-handicap golfer until a back injury ended his career 10 years ago.