Coach Lawrence Trigg is a familiar face on the Armijo Campus. He is a Physical Education teacher, which is important, but for nearly two decades he has been part of the Armijo coaching staff in a variety of ways. This season he is coaching badminton, but that isn’t all he’s done over the years. He sat down and answered some important questions about his coaching experience.

Q: How long have you been coaching at Armijo?  Where and what have you coached before? What else have you coached?

A:I have been coaching at Armijo for 18 years now: 18 years of Girls’ Badminton, 10 years of Boys’ Basketball (two years Freshmen, three years JV and five years Varsity), three years Girls’ Varsity Basketball and two years Girls’ Varsity Basketball Assistant.  The only previous coaching experience that I had was coaching Men’s Basketball in the Fairfield City Leagues.

Q: Besides coaching what do you do and have you done for work? How long have you been teaching at Armijo? Did you teach elsewhere?

A: I spent 12 years working at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.  I spent five years and became a Journeyman Painter through their Apprenticeship program.  I then transferred shops and became a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Apprentice. During that time, I developed degenerative disks in my lumbar spine and spent the next year and half working as a secretary assistant and a pump house operator. When my back did not get better, I took a medical retirement. I the spent seven years as a part-time, and then full-time college student and working for the Sacramento Bee newspaper (delivery), then at Raley’s supermarket as a custodian on graveyard.

I have taught at Armijo for 18 years.  It is my first full-time teaching job.  I spent one year as an uncredentialed PE teacher at VacaValley Christian Life Center (now the Mission) in Vacaville.

Q: Why did you become a coach?

A: I love the sport of basketball.  I wanted the opportunity to learn more about the game and share that knowledge with others who also had a passion for playing basketball.

I became the badminton coach my default.  I had expressed an interest in helping coach the team (having just finished playing the sport in one of my college classes).  The Athletic Director “heard” me say I wanted to coach the sport and offered me the job after my first basketball season.  The badminton team’s coach had just retired when I stepped in.

Q: When did your sons attend Armijo? What are they doing now?

A: My two sons attended Armijo from 2001-02 until 2006.   Keith graduated in 2004.  He played football and basketball for four seasons and ran track for three years.  Aaron graduated in 2006, and played soccer and basketball for four years and he ran track for one season.

They both currently lived in Oahu, Hawaii.  Keith works for Disney at Aulani Resort and Aaron is a bartender and manager trainee at Bubba Gump’s restaurant in Honolulu.

Q: What are your hobbies? What else do you do for fun?

A: My hobbies are many and varied.  They all bring me joy and are fun to do. I still enjoy playing sports – especially basketball, but I also have a blast participating in cycling, tennis, badminton and bowling.

I enjoy hands-on labor.  I’ve built two decks and a shed and have replaced / repaired quite a few fences – the last two with Mr. Ron Meeter, a fellow PE teacher.  I have also painted about six house exteriors.

I also enjoy going on mission trips to other countries.  I have been to Liberia, Africa three times; Bucharest, Romania two times; and Rwanda, Uganda and Philippines one time each.  It brings me great joy and pleasure to help others.

Spending quality time with my wife is also a hobby of mine, especially taking long motorcycle rides on my Honda Goldwing and working together doing church- related activities. I also enjoy talking to and praying with (and for) people.

Q: What advice would you give to students considering going into coaching?

A: I would tell them to explore the teaching area first.  I believe a good coach is first and foremost a good teacher.  Both disciplines involve obtaining knowledge and then finding the best way to distribute it back to someone else so that they become better at something.

I would tell them to always try and be a positive influence on their players; to never use profanity to (or at) them; and to always encourage them!!

Q: If you could change one thing about Armijo (students, facilities, staff, etc.), what would it be and why?

A: I would ask everyone to take more PRIDE in what they do. Students, teachers, custodians, secretaries, counselors, etc. I would encourage them to do the right thing (the best thing), just because that is what we were born to do.  Striving to be your best at all times benefits everyone!

Q: Anything else you would like to say?

A: Teaching here at Armijo has been one fantastic voyage.  So many positive memories to take with me!   I wish I could say that I have taught here for 35 plus years – it’s been that enjoyable.