Dr. Michael Sutliff
Dean of Kinesiology/Athletics
Orange Coast College started a new chapter in its Kinesiology and Athletics programs by hiring Dr. Michael Sutliff as the school's Dean of Kinesiology & Athletics on July 1, 2012.
With an extensive list of educational, teaching and coaching experience, Sutliff leads the Pirates' staff after coming from Los Angeles Southwest College, where he was the Dean of Physical Education, Mathematics and Natural Science for the past two years.
Prior to his stint at LASWC, Sutliff was a 14-year employee at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where some of his job duties included Department Chair, Single Subject Coordinator, Director of Physical Education Teacher Education and tenured professor of the Kinesiology Department. While at San Luis Obispo, Sutliff developed programs for teaching self and social responsibility to at-risk youth and created a home-school physical education program.
Sutliff also brings some on-the-field experience to the job, having been a head men's soccer coach for Middle Tennessee State University and San Diego Christian College. He also taught physical education and coached at the high school, middle school and elementary school levels.
Throughout his academic and professional careers, Sutliff has published over 30 journals and presented over 50 research papers on topics that include physical education teacher education, sports law and coaching. In addition, he was also a Physical Education Consultant for the Los Angeles Unified School District and helped organize over 20 workshops on effective practice, content development and assessment.
Sutliff earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Biola University, his master's degree in educational administration at National University and earned his doctorate in physical education at Middle Tennessee State.
Athletic success has been a trademark of the Sutliff family for several generations.
- Michael's aunt was one of the first female physical education teachers at Huntington Beach High School in 1912.
- Sutliff's uncle was the President at the University of Hawaii and he started the football team at the school.
- His grandfather, Will Crawford, played football at Pomona College and later became the superintendent of schools for the San Diego Unified School District for 30 years.
- And last, but not least, Michael's mother was a physical education major and graduated from San Diego State University in the 1950s.
Michael and his wife, Cindy, live in Costa Mesa and have four sons, Colin, Brandon, Taylor and Patrick. His core values are: Respect, collaboration and trust.
