Staff

Mike Garcia

In Spring 1998, Athletic Director/P.E. Coordinator Mike Garcia was asked by Dean Elizabeth Armstrong to research the implementation of a new Fitness Center with a team of Fitness Experts (Angelo Festa, Sally McGill, Jeanne Stalker, Brian Gerbig and Frank Mangiola). After site visits to Hartnell College, Foothill College and Chabot College’s Fitness Centers it was determined to open Cañada’s new Fitness Center in Fall of 1998. The first semester enrollment totaled 180 students ranging in age from 18 to 80 years old. The center has grown with each year of operation to now average over 400 students per semester. Mike Garcia directs the center with close input from Nick Carr and experienced faculty members striving to meet our student’s needs. In the not so distant future, the center will gain an additional 3200 sq. feet to expand our offerings. The Cañada College Fitness Center, THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN !

Nick Carr

Nick Carr joined the Cañada College Fitness Center staff in October, 2002. He has been involved in physical fitness and athletics all his life. Nick grew-up on the beaches of Southern California, surfing, running, and playing beach volleyball. A product of the California Community College System, he attended El Camino College competing in both Cross Country and Track. Nick is the El Camino College record holder for 1500 meters, the metric mile, and won the Southern California Section Championships in that event. He received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Colorado, and was awarded Big Eight honors for both Cross Country and Track. Nick earned a BA in Physical Education and an MA in Physical Education and Administration from the California State University at Dominguez Hills. He is also a certified personal trainer and a member of many professional organizations.

Jose Peña

Jose was born and raised in Mexico and migrated to the United States in 1978.  He graduated from Cañada College with an A.A. Degree (1982, High Honors, Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society) and a bilingual certificate (English/Spanish).  In 1985 he graduated with honors from San Jose State University where he completed his B.S. Degree in Human Performance, and was a member of the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. Jose has completed 15 graduate units at San Jose State University.  Jose played intercollegiate club badminton at San Jose State, and has played volleyball competitively since the age of 14.  He has coached high school volleyball and has taught Physical Education activity courses at Cañada College since 1987.  Possess current CPR/First Aid certification. Jose also works as an Administrative Analyst for the Office of Instruction at Cañada College.

Frank Mangiola

Frank recently retired as the coach of the Cañada men's soccer team. He was the men's soccer coach at Cañada from 1990-2005, he coached at Skyline College from 1980-1989, and at Newark High School prior to that. His teams made eight state final appearances and his career record is 502-197-124. Frank played collegiate soccer for coach Julie Menendez at San Jose State University and played for various club teams in San Francisco.

Ana Miladinova

Ana Miladinova started teaching at Cañada College in Fall 2007. She went to high school in Macedonia and competed in dancing on national and international level where she won many awards. She moved to Slovenia to pursue her undergraduate degree in Physical Education and Dance Training. As soon as she earned her Bachelor’s degree she moved to San Francisco where she earned her master’s degree in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University (SFSU). During her master’s studies she taught fitness and dance classes at SFSU and obtained a personal trainer certification. Before joining Cañada College she worked as a personal trainer at UCSF Bakar Fitness Center and Club One in San Francisco, as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehab program at Seton Medical Center and as a dance trainer in Scottsdale, Arizona.