As coaches, our goal is for our student-athletes to learn and enjoy the game of football. Our work as a team is accomplished through regimented instruction, strength and conditioning training, and teaching the rules and fundamentals of the game. Our team is rooted in the values of sportsmanship, accountability, determination, and friendship. By placing others above self and working towards common goals, student-athletes will learn to succeed in a challenging and supportive environment.
Ben Soto Ben has been at the helm of Cate football since the program’s rebirth in 2005. He brings a 77-33 (.700 win percentage) record into the season and has helped lead Cate to 5 Condor League championships and two trips to the CIFss semi-finals. He has also helped several players go on to play at the next level at schools like Macalester College, Hobart College, and Colby College.
A Carpinteria native, Ben captioned the Warriors team in 1973. Prior to his time at Cate, Ben coached at his alma mater, Carpinteria High School.
Wade Ransom Defensive Backs/ Wide Receivers Coach, Video Coordinator
Wade brings over 20 years of experience in the game of football. He was fortunate enough to play under the legendary Michael Alberque at Fair Lawn High School, where Coach Alberque instilled in him a passion and love for the game that has not wavered. After playing collegiately at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Wade was lucky enough to serve as an Intern Athletic Trainer on the medical staff of his hometown team, the New York Jets. At Cate, he is excited to help young people learn about life through the lessons football can teach, and assist them in reaching their goals on and off the field.
Craig Bouma Asst. Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Coach Bouma may be the newest member of Cate’s coaching staff, but he is not new to high school football. After arriving on the Mesa in 2015 to shepherd the Science Department, Bouma could not stay away from the gridiron. He joined the staff in 2018 and was thankful to be a part of a fantastic season where Cate topped the California 8-man rankings. Bouma’s glory days began in 1986 where he was a member of the Valley Christian Crusaders who, on a cold night in December, shocked the world to win a CIF championship over the states’ #1-ranked small school’s team, the Carpinteria Warriors. Not knowing at the time, Bouma had bested his future mentor, legendary Carp local, and Cate’s head coach, Ben Soto. After 30 years, Bouma feels lucky to join Soto and be on his staff. Bouma says, “Ben is a rare find in football, he understands the game and is committed to life skills it can teach — for Ben it is about family, being together, working hard together, having fun together, and getting the most out of yourself for each other. That’s something I can get on board with.”
Bouma’s prior coaching experience was at Loyola High School of LA where he learned to coach under the tutelage of Steve Grady, and the Cubs were perennial contenders in D1 football winning CIF championships in ’03 and ’05. The best parts of Bouma’s week on the Mesa are practices and games. It is at those moments that he finds the companionship, vigorous play, and hard work Cate’s founder so eloquently described in the School’s mission statement.
