Daniel Teresa

A lifelong athlete, coach and leader, Dan Teresa has dedicated over four decades to shaping athletes through excellence, mentorship and innovation. A 3-sport standout at North Salinas High School, Dan was named Athlete of the Year and led his football, baseball and basketball teams to multiple playoff appearances.

Recognized by the Salinas Californian as the best Monterey County high school quarterback of the 1980s, Dan continued his athletic career at Hartnell College where he quarterbacked two state championship football teams, earned all-state baseball honors, was named Athlete of the Year and Quarterback of the Decade. He later played second base at the University of Michigan.
Dan’s distinguished 34-year career at Hartnell spans 18 years of coaching and 16 years as athletic director. As head baseball coach he led teams to multiple state playoff appearances, earned Coach of the Year honors and was recognized as a 2002 Olympic Torchbearer. In 2004 he was a USA-Today Weekend newspaper, “Most Caring Coach.” Throughout his career, coach Teresa helped countless student-athletes secure scholarships to 4-year institutions.

As dean and athletic director, Dan was named 2025 Administrator of the Year of all community colleges in the state. Under his leadership Hartnell athletic programs have achieved national prominence securing numerous Top 10 state and Top 25 national rankings. In 2022-23 Hartnell was awarded the All Sports Award as Central California’s most successful athletic program.
Coach Teresa is also a published author, documenting the history of Hartnell’s baseball and football programs.