Coach Justin Duarte began his Mt. SAC coaching career in 2017, with arrival of Head Coach John Knott, his former teammate at Azusa Pacific University (APU).  Duarte is a catching specialist and will work with the Mt. SAC men behind the plate and assist with offensive development for the Mounties. 

Prior to arriving at Mt. SAC, Duarte served as assistant coach and head coach/manager of Fellowship of Christian Athletes Affiliate, So Cal Catch (’13, ’14, ‘15) of the California Collegiate League.  Prior to his time with the So Cal Catch, he was the head coach at Ontario Christian High School for three seasons ('10, '11, '12), an assistant coach at the University of La Verne ('08, '09) and an assistant coach at his alma mater, APU ('06, '07).

Since  2007, Duarte has also served as a west coast regional scout for the Baseball Factory/Under Armour, where he has worked to evaluate as many as 2,000 high school baseball players a year.

Duarte was an outstanding prep athlete at Charter Oak High School ('94 graduate), excelling on the gridiron and on the diamond.  He transferred to APU where he continued his education and his baseball and football careers.  At APU, he was two-time NAIA All-American for the Cougars Baseball Team and was a member of the 1998 NAIA National Championship Football Program.

After graduating from APU, Duarte was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies (22nd round, 1999 MLB Draft) and played 4-years of professional baseball, reaching the double A level with the San Diego Padres.  

In 2009, Duarte received the ultimate athletic honor, with his induction into APU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Duarte received both his Bachelors of Science Degree in Physical Education (1998) and his and his Masters in Education (2005) from Azusa Pacific University. 

For the past 16 years, he has served the students in the Covina-Valley U.S.D. and has been an educator at Fairvalley High School (Covina, CA) the past 13 years, teaching Earth Science, Physical Education, Sociology and Psychology.

Duarte and his wife Sara, reside in Chino with the daughter Madison and son Elijah. 

In his spare time he enjoys hosting catching camps with his Next Level Catching Academy, surfing, exercising and especially coaching his son and enjoying time with his family. 

updated on 02/09/18