Top 15 O.C. coaching performances of the regular season

Slide show: With the football playoffs about to begin, OCVarsity's Carlos Arias takes a look at the coaches who got the most out of their teams during the regular season. Some had to deal with adversity or distractions off the field, and some led their teams to major achievements on the field. Click through the slide show to check out Arias' list of the top coaching performances in the O.C. this season.

1. San Clemente: The Tritons lost longtime coach Eric Patton, who was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 15 after being accused of being involved in a countywide kickback scheme with an athletic supply company. Jon Hamro stepped in to replace Patton and he guided San Clemente to a 9-1 record and a second-place finish in the South Coast League. The Tritons are legitimate contenders in the Pac-5 playoffs.

2. Servite: Troy Thomas has been the coach at Servite for seven seasons and the Friars have won seven consecutive league titles, two Pac-5 titles and one state championship. Thomas led the Friars to another undefeated run through the Trinity League this season and to their 18th consecutive league victory. They are the top seed in the Pac-5 Division.

3. Yorba Linda: Jeff Bailey knows how to a build a program. He led El Dorado to back-to-back Southwest Division titles in 2006 and 2007 before taking over as the coach at brand-new Yorba Linda High. Bailey has his first senior class and he has led the Mustangs to a 9-1 record and a share of the Empire League title. Look out for Yorba Linda in the Southwest Division playoffs.

4. Rancho Alamitos: Mike Enright guided the Vaqueros to a 9-1 record and a Garden Grove League championship. The Vaqueros were once known for their rushing attack, but Enright has used a balanced attack to get Rancho back on the map.

5. Estancia: Mike Bargas led the Eagles to an 8-2 record and their second consecutive Orange Coast League championship. The Eagles are seeded third in the Southern Division and they are braced to make a deep run in the postseason.

6. Santa Margarita: Harry Welch knows how to win. He won championships at Canyon of Canyon Country, St. Margaret's and now he has the Eagles in position to make a run at the Pac-5 title. Welch knows how to get the most out of his players.

7. Beckman: Ken Mushinskie had big shoes to fill when he stepped in to replace Fred Shambaugh as the Patriots' coach this season, considering Shambaugh led Beckman to the Southern Division finals last season. Beckman started the season with back-to-back losses, but Mushinskie turned the Patriots around and led them on an eight-game winning streak and a Pacific Coast League championship. Beckman grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Southern Division in the process.

8. El Toro: Rob Frith has taken the Chargers to the quarterfinals in his first two seasons as El Toro's coach and now he has guided the Chargers to a 9-1 season, Sea View League championship and a No. 4 seed in the Southwest Division. This could be the season Frith takes El Toro all the way.

9. Edison: Dave White always tests his players against the best possible competition during the nonleague portion of his schedule and this year it got his team ready for an undefeated run through the Sunset League. With White at the helm, the Chargers are always dangerous in the Pac-5 playoffs.

10. Mission Viejo: Bob Johnson is a quarterback guru and he has developed another fine QB in Alex Bridgford. The Diablos and their aerial attack will be hard to stop in the postseason. The offense usually gets all the attention at Mission Viejo, but Johnson has put together a bruising defense as well.

11. Aliso Niguel: Kurt Westling has the Wolverines in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Aliso Niguel went 7-3 and finished tied for second place in the Sea View League. The Wolverines pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in county history when they rallied for 29 points in the fourth quarter to beat Capistrano Valley, 29-28, on Oct. 14.

12. Villa Park: Dusan Ancich has guided the Spartans to a perfect 10-0 record in the regular season, a Century League title and the top seed in the Southwest Division playoffs. Can Ancich take Villa Park to the promised land after a great regular season?

13. Anaheim: The Colonists were 2-4 and not looking like a playoff contender at one point this season, but Lanny Booher turned things around for Anaheim. The Colonists closed out the regular season with a four-game winning streak and a share of the Orange League title.

14. Newport Harbor: Jeff Brinkley doesn't have the amount of weapons at his disposal as he's had in the past, but he still led the Sailors to a 5-5 record, a third-place finish in the Sunset League and a berth in the Pac-5 playoffs. People shouldn't overlook a Brinkley-coached team in the playoffs.

15. Segerstrom: Mike Maceranka has the fourth-seeded Jaguars in position to make a run in the Southern Division playoffs after leading Segerstrom to an 8-2 record and the Golden West League championship. Segerstrom brings a six-game winning streak into the postseason.