Jon Sanchez knew there was a chance that the hierarchy at San Diego State would re-shuffle this offseason.

But coach Brady Hoke's departure didn't matter to the Vista Murrieta defensive lineman. He'd made up his mind, and on Wednesday, Sanchez made his commitment to the Aztecs official alongside Broncos classmates and dozens of scholar-athletes participating in National Signing Day throughout the Valley.

"I was surprised (Hoke) left, but I was going there for the school," Sanchez said. "I wasn't going there for the coach, and I knew there was a chance he could leave. ...

"I was committed there. I wasn't going to leave."

The same goes for Chaparral defensive back/running back Darius Guillory, who cemented his commitment to San Diego State at an on-campus signing party Wednesday afternoon, the second largest in the school's history. Eleven Pumas -- Amanda Abbott, Garrett Ballreich, Ta' Rea Cunnigan, Shelby Graves, Taylor Peterson, Shelby Pickett, Trevor Podratz, Paige Saxton Getty, Cole Sommers, Dylan Valentine -- celebrated commitments to four-year institutions, while Pumas wide receiver Antoine Arnold made his full scholarship to Arizona Western official following an injury-plagued season.

"It's great," said Pickett, a softball player who committed to Ohio State during the November early signing period. "All my hard work has paid off and I've been doing this since I was 6. It's worth it."

Schools staged signing parties throughout the Valley. At Elsinore, the Tigers celebrated five commitments -- Zachary Dembrowski (Western New Mexico football), Ryan and Raymond McKendry (Concordia track, cross country), Lauren Quijano (Metropolitan State volleyball) and Ashley Stevenson (Michigan State gymnastics) -- while Temecula Valley had linebacker Adam Pulsipher (Brigham Young University) take part in a ceremonial signing alongside nearly a dozen classmates.

Plenty of other Valley athletes signed, too. At Murrieta Valley, Bryan Lynton's boys water polo program had three seniors -- Jantz Johnson (Air Force), Eric Van de Mortel (UC Santa Barbara) and Trent Virgil (Long Beach State) -- make commitments to NCAA Division I programs. Nighthawks athletic director Darin Mott said the school will hold its official ceremonial signing party in the spring, which will include, among others, Melissa Hale (Cal water polo), Dale Howard (Dominican University) and Meghan Sheehan-Dizon (BYU tennis).

It will go down a lot like it did at Vista Murrieta.

"It's not about the school; it's about parents and a day for people to support and see how valuable their work is," Vista Murrieta offensive coordinator Eric Peterson said of the Broncos' festivities. "This is a positive affirmation of all of that. A lot of moving pieces allow this all to happen."

Peterson oversaw a signing day party for eight Broncos, including Tisha Alyn Abrea (Cal State Fullerton golf), Jenna Molina (Auburn softball) and Jovonte Slater (USC track). Vista Murrieta quarterback Derrick Brown also made his commitment to Washington official more than a week after decommitting to Utah, signing on the dotted line alongside teammate Jon Sanchez.

Both sported their new university's pull-over hoodies.

"There's been a whole lot of waiting," said Sanchez, who committed to San Diego State last summer. "To finally sign, it feels great. It's definitely a dream come true."