Sac-Joaquin Section Commissioner Pete Saco has often said that Elliot Christian High School is the model for small schools
wanting to build athletic programs.
Cliff Borden’s job is to try to take Elliot athletics to an even higher level. Borden is the school’s new athletic director, replacing Jane Davis, who stepped down this summer after a successful nine-tenure that saw the school add football and build a softball program that is among the best in the state.
“I have some ties here, so I know a lot about the school and have kept up with it,” said Borden, whose sister and brother-in-law, Dan and Beth Lambdin, founded Elliot in 1997.
Borden is appreciative of what he’s been handed. “Jane has done a great job of getting the program to where it is,” he
said. “My job is to come in and try to make it a little better.” Borden seems well equipped for the challenge, with 25 years of coaching, teaching and administrative experience. He spent the last nine years at Redding Christian School, where he was the principal, a teacher and a softball coach.
Borden graduated from the University of Pacific with a degree in computer science and then started his career at Brookside Christian in Stockton in 1986, where he served as principal and athletic director before leaving for a school in Monterey in 1997. He’s coached soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and track.
“We’re expanding the role (of AD) to more administrative and he’s been an AD, administrator and teacher,” Elliot Principal David Couchman said of Borden. “He just has more ability to do some things.” Borden is leaving a school that had an enrollment of about 130 students and coming to one that is at 225 and growing. He said he believes this year’s freshman class is already full. “Even in this economy they’ve continued to grow,” Borden said. He said he doesn’t intend to coach this year but it’s a possibility in the future. Borden added that he could see Elliot adding some sports in the coming years.
Davis, who also taught physical education at Elliot, leaves an impressive legacy. She took over as AD in 2002 and the school had a football team a year later, led by her husband, Dean. During her tenure the softball team won seven section championships. Her sons, Jon and Matt, and daughter, Katie, were also star athletes at the school. “Jane did a fantastic job. She is very upbeat and energetic and works well with the community and loves the kids,” Couchman said.
“Stepping up to coach track and field when there was no coach for the 2011 season — even though she had no track and field experience — That is very representative of her.”
Source: Lodi News 8/15/2011




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