Rocky Seto

Few can ever dream about the experiences that former Mountie Rocky Seto has been blessed to be a part of during his illustrious football playing and coaching career.  Seto’s hard work ethic, eagerness to learn, knowledge of the game and ability to instill these same qualities into his athletes, propelled him to the pinnacle of his sport.   

Seto grew up in Arcadia, California. The son of hard working Japanese immigrants Akira and Emiko Seto, Seto learned early on, the values necessary to one day become a Super Bowl winning coach.  

After falling in love with the sport of football, Seto competed at Dana Junior High and at Arcadia High School (1994 graduate) where he dreamed of one day playing for the USC Trojans, the favorite team of his father.  

After high school, he decided to follow his dream by continuing his education and playing career at Mt. San Antonio College.  Seto chose Mt. SAC due to Mounties Head Coach, at the time, Bill Fisk.  Fisk’s ties to USC ran deep as a former Trojan All-American, member of the 1962 National Championship Team and friend of then Athletics Director Mike Garrett.  

At Mt. SAC (1995-1997), Seto’s hard work ethic, drive and determination earned him numerous Mountie team honors and a spot in the hearts of the Mt. SAC Coaching Staff.

After Mt. SAC, Seto walked-on to the USC Football Team (’97) after a chance meeting with John Robinson (then USC Head Coach) and a strong recommendation from Bill Fisk.  A year later (’98), Paul Hackett replaced Robinson as Head Coach.  He displayed the same qualities as he did at Mt. SAC earning Defensive Black Shirt Player of the Year Honors, Team Captain (Purdue Game, ‘98) and a full athletic scholarship during his senior season(’98).

At the conclusion of his playing career, Seto was retained by Hackett as a volunteer assistant coach (’99) and administrative assistant coach (’01).  

In 2001, Pete Carroll was introduced as the new USC Head Coach.  Carroll retained Seto, thus beginning a 16-year football friendship which produced 7 bowl game victories, 7 PAC-10 Championships, 2 NCAA Division 1 National Championships, 3 NFC West Championships, 2 Super Bowl appearances and the 2013 NFL Super Bowl Championship.

At both USC and the Seattle Seahawks, Seto rose from the bottom to the top, serving in various capacities as a trusted advisor to Carroll.  At USC, he served as an assistant coach (linebackers/defensive backs) and defensive coordinator.  At Seattle, Seto served as quality control coach, assistant coach, pass game coordinator and assistant head coach.

Along with their coaching partnership, Seto and Carroll have also partnered to improve football safety through their Shoulder Tackling instructional videos and clinics (www.shouldertackling.com).   

In 2017, Seto announced his retirement from the NFL, to pursue his calling and serve as a pastor.  He is currently serving as Senior Associate Pastor of the Evergreen San Gabriel Valley Church in La Puente, located halfway between Mt. SAC and his hometown of Arcadia.  Seto also continues to spiritually inspire others through his website “The Greatest Treasure” (www.thegreatesttreasure.org) and through various motivational speaking engagements.

Seto earned his Associate in Arts Degree from Mt. SAC (‘97).  He earned his Bachelor Degree in Exercise Science (‘99) and his Masters Degree in Public Administration (‘01) from the University of Southern California.  Seto is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Theology from Liberty University.     

Rocky and his lovely wife, former USC Women’s Soccer Player Sharla Chiang, reside in San Gabriel with their young children, daughters, Kaylani and Mia, and sons, Troy and Timothy.