Mater Dei High School first opened its doors to 120 students and 20 football players in 1950. The school played its first varsity football games the following year, and the Monarchs won their first two CIF championships in 1956 and 1957.

For the past six decades, Monarch football has been the cornerstone of an athletic program that recently led Sports Illustrated to name Mater Dei the #2 high school athletic program in America. Competing annually against the best competition in Southern California, Mater Dei has compiled an enviable record for football success:

468 wins and only 176 losses

25 league championships

9 CIF championships

2 USA Today national championships

5 undefeated seasons

Only 4 losing seasons

In addition, Mater Dei is one of only two high schools in America that has produced two Heisman Trophy winners. Quarterback John Huarte (Mater Dei Class of 1961) won the award in 1964 after an All-American career at Notre Dame. And quarterback Matt Leinart (Class of 2001) won the award in 2004 after completing a record-setting career at USC.