Born in Reedley, California, Setencich attended Washington Union High School in Fresno in 1963.
Setencich transferred to Fresno State, where he was a two-year letterman and graduated with a degree in biological sciences (and physical education) in 1967.
[2] Setencich began his coaching career as a high school assistant at alma mater Washington in 1969, then at Mount Diablo (1970–73) in Concord in the East Bay Area.
He helped lead the Broncos to the Big Sky title and the Division I-AA national championship in his first season and the semifinals in 1981.
Setencich later coached at Pacific (1994) under Chuck Shelton, Arizona State (1995–1996) under Bruce Snyder, and California (1997–2001) under Tom Holmoe.