Sierra College

Ben Noonan was named Head Football Coach of Sierra College prior to the 2013 season, and has provided tremendous leadership and numerous signature wins since taking the helm of the Wolverine Football program. Recent seasons have provided no shortage of such moments, with the Wolverines tallying wins over highly touted City College of San Francisco, American River College, and Fresno City College while ascending to a ranking as high as #5 in the state.

The 2023 season culminated with Sierra's fifth consecutive postseason appearance and seventh in Noonan's tenure. 2023 also saw the emergance of star dual-threat quarterback Cruz Herrera (St. Mary's HS), whose dazzling play earned him a Division 1 scholarship to Stony Brook University. Herrera is the 3rd Sierra quarterback to move on to the Division 1 level in the last 2 seasons.

While under Noonan's tutelage in 2022, quarterback Michael Wortham (Center HS) led all of Northern California in Total Offense with over 275 yards per game on his way to being named NorCal Conference Offensive Player of the Year, winning All-America honors, and signing a Division 1 scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Fellow sophomore quarterback Nick Goodwin (Vista del Lago HS) also moved on to play at Division 1 Missouri State University following that season.

Noonan's Wolverines have won 3 bowl games in his tenure. The 2019 season saw Sierra College grind out a 21-14 victory over host and defending state champion Laney College in the Nor Cal Grizzly Bowl. That Bowl victory was the second consecutive Grizzly Bowl championship for Sierra, the first coming a year earlier with a 24-10 win over Sacramento City College. In 2015, Sierra stunned host Fresno City College in the State Center bowl by nailing a long field goal as time expired to win 31-28.

As passionate and competitive about football as he is, Coach Noonan preaches to his team to "never let football define who you are" and provides numerous opportunities for their personal growth. He has worked closely with the counseling department, student services, and tutoring help to increase student-athlete GPA and the team transfer rate each year. Under Noonan's guidance the program has also made an impact on campus and around the community. For the last two years leading up to the Christmas holiday, Wolverine football began a partnership with Sacramento-based Voices of the Youth Organization to help provide over 3000 toys for children of families in need. Around campus, the Wolverines are annually an ally of the Rise Up! movement to end violence against women. 

The Noonan era has seen no shortage of standout players in who have been recognized for their efforts. In his tenure, 10 Wolverines have been named All-Americans, most notably conference Offensive Player of the Year Michael Wortham (2022), Defensive Player of the Year Zack Starnes (2013), future 1st Round draft pick and San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk (2017), and future Atlanta Falcons WR Devin Gray (2015). In addition, 22 players have been recognized as All-State performers and 71 won All-Conference honors.

PRIOR TO SIERRA COLLEGE

From 2009-2012, Noonan served as Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Physical Education Instructor at Citrus College. Noonan’s quarterbacks set school records for yards, completions, and touchdowns.

In 2008, he served as offensive coodinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama State University in the SWAC conference. Prior to that, as a graduate assistant he served as the Quarterbacks coach at Baylor University in the Big 12 conference in 2007.

At the age of 26 he was offensive coordinator at West Texas A&M University for a team ranked #10 in the nation. His offense set several school records during his tenure there and he mentored several players who would go on to spend time in the NFL. Coach Noonan earned his M.S. in Kinesiology in 2004 while coaching at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He began his coaching career at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played receiver and earned his AA in 1998.

Noonan is a big believer in the importance of Junior College football, as he himself turned his JC playing career into a scholarship to Bemidji State University, where he went on to earn his B.A. in English in 2000.

Coach Noonan lives in Roseville with his wife Joanna, son Benny Samuel and daughter Adriana Georgette.