Mark Speckman enters his first season as Head Football Coach of the Oaks after achieving remarkable success at both the college and high school level.  Coach Speckman spent the past 17 years, the last 14 of them as head coach, at NCAA Division III Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.  Under Speckman, the Bearcats were an impressive 82-59 (.582) in 14 seasons, including an outstanding 47-28 (.627) in Northwest Conference play.  Additionally, Willamette enjoyed 5 conference championships, 5 national playoff berths, and a 1997 National Championship Game appearance with Speckman in the fold.  The Bearcats have also seen 8 All-Americans, 4 Conference Player of the Year honors, and 79 1^stTeam All-Conference distinctions since Speckman took over as head coach before the 1998 season. 

The overwhelming success has earned Speckman two Northwest Conference Coach of the Year awards (1999 & 2008), as well as being recognized as the 2008 Regional Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and D3Football.com.  In 2008 Speckman was a Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year Finalist, where he was featured on ABC and ESPN. 

At the high school level, Speckman spent 14 years as a head coach in California prior to his arrival at Willamette.  His teams earned a combined record of 113-48-3 (.698) and during an eight year tenure at Merced High (1986-93), Speckman achieved back to back undefeated seasons (1989-90) and his 1990 team was voted #1 in California, was ranked 5^thin the nation by ESPN, and 10^thby USA Today.

Speckman is regarded as an authority on the "Fly" offense, one that brings the flanker in motion across the formation before the snap to take a handoff, block on a running play, or become a receiver.  The ball can go in a number of directions on any given snap, creating havoc for the opposing defense.  Speckman's exciting, fast paced offense has been used on a number of different football levels, including on the NCAA Division I stage and even the NFL.  In a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers was reported as using Speckman's "Fly" offense this season, and attempted to incorporate it during his days at Stanford. 

During his playing days, Speckman spent two seasons suiting up at linebacker for Menlo from 1973-74, and was inducted into the Menlo College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.  After the '74 season, Speckman transferred to Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif. to complete his degree, and in the process earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention status as a player. 

Speckman is also a nationally recognized motivational speaker, spreading his inspirational story on reaching one's potential to numerous business, community, and educational organizations, including corporate giants Nike and Blue Cross.

Speckman grew up in nearby Belmont.  He was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and in 2004 the Oregonian named Speckman on their list of the 25 most influential figures in sports in the state of Oregon, coming in at #24.