brendan finnerty
SCHS VARSITY HEAD COACH
As the Head Coach of San Clemente Lacrosse High School, Coach Brendan Finnerty understands the dynamics of team collaboration and how to motivate players to take their game to the next level. His knowledge and experience of the sport will give players the opportunity to improve their lacrosse skills and ultimately give them the ability to compete at the high school and collegiate level. Coach Finn and the 2025 Tritons won CIF SS DII Championship and he was honored with 2025 Orange County Coach of the year and CIF SS DII Coach of the year.
Brendan Finnerty 'Finn' received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Accounting from Fairfield University. During his years at Fairfield University, Coach Finn was a 2008 team captain and appeared in the 2005 NCAA DI Tournament. Coach Finn was also honored as a two-time HS All-American Lacrosse player from his hometown in Long Island, NY.
Coach Finn started coaching in the Orange County area in 2010. He has coached for local high schools: Aliso Niguel (assistant coach), Trabuco Hills (head coach), Beckman (head coach), and currently San Clemente High School. Finn coached for the SoCal Lacrosse Youth program, and he started one of the first local club teams in 2012, Wild Horse Lacrosse. He then created Saddleback Starz, and now SC Sharks.
john kauo
SCHS Jr. VARSITY COACH
Coach Jason Kauo coaches the Tritons Junior Varsity team along with his brother, John. Coach Jason focuses on the Tritons offense focusing on developing Attack and Attacking Middies. The JV team has had a lot of success under Jason’s leadership, winning the last four league championship titles.
He started playing lacrosse in 3rd grade - with Coach Finn as his favorite youth coach. Jason played lacrosse for Trabuco Hills High School, graduating in 2018. Jason was a four-year Varsity Attack for Trabuco, earning All South Coast League honors three times and All County honors twice. During his time at Trabuco, he helped lead the team to two South Coast League Championships, four playoff appearances, and served two years as a Team Captain.
Jason continued his lacrosse career playing Attack for Colorado Mesa university. He graduated from CMU in 2022 with a degree in Construction Management. Jason coaches the 7th and 8th grade Sharks teams. He is very involved in youth lacrosse and the development of young players within the Sharks program. In addition to coaching lacrosse, he also owns and operates his own home remodeling business, Pono Hale Construction.
jason kauo
SCHS Jr. VARSITY COACH
Since taking on the JV coaching role, Coach John Kauo has led San Clemente’s JV program to remarkable progress and success. The Tritons have captured four straight South Coast league championships. Last year, the Tritons JV team posted a 10-1 record.
Coach Kauo played lacrosse for Trabuco Hills High School, graduating in 2016. While at Trabuco Hills, he was recognized as both a 2x All-League and 2x All-County middie. As a team captain, he led his team to back-to-back South Coast League championships. He started playing lacrosse in 7th grade with Coach Finn as his coach. He is looking forward to giving back to the sport he loves and mentoring young men in the same way Coach Finn was his mentor.
He attended Northern Arizona University to pursue a degree in Psychology. He started his own business designing and building furniture and worked as a finish carpenter for a manufacturing company in Phoenix, Arizona. Coach Kauo relocated back to southern California to expand the business he owns with his brother, Jason.
In addition to his work with San Clemente High School, Coach Kauo also leads the 7th and 8th grade Sharks teams.