Head Coach Jono Zissi

Zissi finished his 14th season at the helm of the Falcons. One of the most well-respected High School coaches in the country, Zissi has built one of the premiere prep programs.

In fourteen seasons at TP (minus covid ’20 and a shortened ’21), Zissi has amassed a record of 228 – 58, won eight CIF titles (’11, ’13, ’18, ‘19, ’21, ’22, ’23, 24), four CIF Finalist trophies (’10,’12, ’15, ’16), nine Avocado League titles and a western ranking of #1 five times. All of this while continuing to play a National lineup of teams holding one of the strongest strength of schedules year in and year out. TP has beaten teams from 9 different states over his tenure (including National powerhouses Lawrenceville School, Phillips Andover, Ridgefield HS, Nobles School and Deerfield Academy to name a few) . Zissi recorded his 300th total career win as a High School Head Coach in the Falcons second game of the season this spring, combining his 3 stops (USDHS, Bishops, TP). A truly remarkable feat!

The 2024 season saw the Falcons ride great senior leadership and overcome some tricky personnel losses to earn the only 6-peat in Western lacrosse history, destroying LCC, 18-4 to win the Open division title. The Falcons went 17-3 and finished the spring ranked 3rd in the West, 2^nd in CA, 1^st in So Cal.

In 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013, 2011,2007, 2004 the team was also ranked in the National Top 25 to end the season; a virtually unheard of accomplishment for a West Coast based school.  Zissi has earned Coach of the Year Honors in 2006, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, & 2023.

Zissi has coached 38 US Lacrosse All Americans, 68 All CIF players and placed countless boys in college programs in his tenure at Torrey Pines. He has coached the CIF Player of the Year 7x and the USA West Player of the Year 5x. He is the winningest current Head Coach in San Diego section CIF.

In 2010, Zissi was the Offensive Coordinator at NCAA Division III Tufts University, where he lead the Jumbos to the schools first ever National Championship, a NESCAC league Championship and a 20-1 record. Tufts had the highest scoring offense in the country in 2010 and produced five All Americans.

Prior to that, he was the Co-Head Coach and faculty member at the Bishops School from 2006-2009, where he won two Coastal Conference crowns. He also won the 2009 Boys Basketball CIF Championship in his role as the Varsity Assistant coach.

His coaching career began in 2003, when he started the program at University of San Diego High School (currently called Cathedral Catholic), where he stayed until 2006.

Zissi is also the Nike National Allstar Games Pacific South West Coach and has been since the inception of the tournament. Zissi was featured on ESPNU summer of 2014: https://youtu.be/ILyiGviyCX8

Zissi oversees the Falcons Middle School feeder program and runs the RC & WCS club programs.

Zissi graduated from Tufts University, where he was a 3 year starter, a 2x All New England Attackman, and scored over 100 career goals. He earned a degree in Psychology and Sociology. He also holds a Masters Degree in Education & Literacy from University of San Diego. Zissi is from Winchester, MA and attended Winchester High School &  PG’d at Avon Old Farms School, where he was a three sport standout in Football, Basketball &  Lacrosse.  Zissi was inducted into Winchester High School Athletics Hall of Fame in May of 2017 and the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame, as a coach, in April of 2018.