Just the fifth full-time (and 10th overall) head coach in Cerritos College history, Nate Fernley comes to Birdland after spending 16 seasons as the head coach at El Camino College. During his time with the Warriors, Fernley led them to the last three South Coast Conference championships and was named the conference's Coach of the Year each season. He also guided his teams to a pair of 3C2A State Championship Final Four appearances in the last five seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2019. Over the course of his 16 seasons, Fernley posted a 443-217 record (.671).

In March, 2023, Fernley was named El Camino College's Health Educator of the Year by the California Community College Physical Education, Kinesiology, Dance organization, the instructional group within the California Community College Athletics Association. He was honored at the CCCAA Spring Convention on March 30 in Sacramento. Fernley taught physical education classes, and was a Guided Pathways team leader for the college’s Health Sciences & Athletics Division. He was also active in teaching in ECC’s award-winning First Year Experience program.

During the 2023 season, Fernley led the Warriors to a 31-14 record and won the conference title. They advanced to the 2nd Round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs before their season came to an end. The 30-win season was the seventh of his career and fourth in the last six years.

In 2019, the Warriors had one of the best years in the program's history, posting a state-best 40-9 overall record. The team won the South Coast Conference title and advanced to the CCCAA State Championships Final Four for the second time in three seasons. The Warriors would finish as the state runners-up for the second time in program history and first since 1951. 

In Coach Fernley's first year at the helm in 2007, the Warriors won their first conference championship in 19 years. The Warriors repeated as conference champion in 2010, culminating in an appearance at the State Tournament Final Four for the first time since 1951. In 2017, Fernley led the Warriors back to the State Championship Final Four after posting a program-record 25-game winning streak. The team went 40-11 overall that season.

Overall, ECC has frequented the playoffs under the leadership of Fernley, making 10 Regional, six Super Regional and three final four appearances (2019, 2017, 2010).

Fernley has coached more than 100 student-athletes who have gone on to four-year programs with several moving on to the professional ranks.

Fernley took over at El Camino College after two years as recruiting coordinator and pitching coach at Long Beach City College. Fernley was an integral part of the Vikings' 2006 State Championship team. Under Fernley's direction, the pitching staff ranked first in the South Coast Conference both years and fourth and first in California, respectively. 

As a player Fernley, played two years at Long Beach City College and in his two seasons, compiled a 14-2 overall record, struck out 141 batters in 153 1/3 innings pitched, and compiled a 2.52 earned run average. Fernley transferred to Brigham Young University and was one of the top pitchers in the nation. As a senior in 2001, he posted a NCAA-leading 16-3 record with a 3.12 ERA and struck out 133 batters. He was named second-team All-American as well as first-team All-Mountain West Conference. Fernley was also named the MWC tournament most valuable player. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians and also played in the Chicago Cubs minor league systems. In three seasons, he posted a 7-7 record with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 96 batters in 121 1/3 innings. Fernley was inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Fame in 2013.