MVC School second quarterback Dominic Pierini looks down the field during a PCAL Mission Division soccer game vs. Visiting Monterey September 22. (Raul Ebio – Santa Cruz Sentinel File)
WATSONVILL — Spencer Ferrari-Wood, 31, was named the new head football coach and program creator at Monte Vista Christian School on Wednesday.
Ferrari-Wood, his wife Natalia and their young Bichpoo Jersey will be relocating to Santa Cruz County by May 1st. He plans to hold the Spring Ball from May 8th to May 15th.
Brazilian Natalia searched Google for jobs in warmer climates near the beach. She spotted MVC’s post and pointed it out to her husband and asked if it was something he would be interested in.
Three Zoom interviews and one face-to-face meeting later, he accepted the job.
“I was initially really impressed with MVC from afar, but once my wife Natalia and I arrived on campus and saw it with our own eyes, it just felt like home,” said Ferrari-Wood. “The people, the facilities, the resources available to the students and the beauty of the environment made a strong impression on us. The infrastructure is in place to make this a truly great football programme. My primary goal in this role is to build Christ-like student athletes and I can’t wait to join the MVC family to do just that. I am truly humbled and honored.”
He replaces Jeremiah “JB” Williams, who has been at the helm for three seasons. Williams was released after the Mustangs continued a 1-8 season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s prestigious Gabilan Division in 21 with a 3-7 season in the Mission Division.
Ferrari-Wood comes to Watsonville from Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served as an assistant to legendary coach Erik Kimrey and as assistant director of boarding school admissions. He joined Baylor in ’21.
Baylor (11-2, 4-1), which included seven student-athletes committed to the NCAA DI programs, won the 2022 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Division II Class AAA State Championship.
Ferrari-Wood played receivers at McIntosh High in Peachtree City, Georgia, Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, and Santa Barbara City College, where he later served as an assistant coach and academic advisor.
After recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture, Ferrari-Wood accepted the opportunity to play in Poland – the start of an eight-year trip back and forth in Europe.
At the age of 24, he became the youngest coordinator in the history of the German Football League when he took over the offensive coordination of the Munich Cowboys at 16. After two years at Munich, he was appointed head coach of the Belgium national team, a position he held from 2018-21.
“Throughout the hiring process with our selection committee of student athletes, coaches and administrators, there was no doubt that Coach Ferrari has risen to the top not only because of his experience in the US, but also because of his experience running international programs, as well as his most recent experience in working with a former SEC coach on one of the most prestigious high school football programs in the country,” MVC athletic director Matt Coleman said in a release. “His approach, strong belief, attention to detail and vast experience make him a great addition to MVC and we look forward to welcoming him and his wife Natalia to California in early May.”
Ferrari-Wood opened a Twitter account (@_CoachFerrari) after he was hired, and many people have already asked to be on his staff, he said. He has already secured Chris Evans and Jared Pierini to remain on the football staff.
Ferrari-Wood has also reviewed some of MVC’s feature films from last season and likes what he sees. “We will build our playbook around our players’ strengths,” he said. “I think we have some good athletes and some playmakers in space.”
Ferrari-Wood holds a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University in Georgia and a master’s degree from Staffordshire University in England.