Some highly successful coaches from Washington high schools will be in Ocean Shores Friday, June 21, for a summit for North Beach School District’s coaches.
It’s part of a whole-student approach to increase academic excellence by structuring district athletic programs to ensure consistency, high expectations, increased participation and improved success in all athletic programs, the district said in a news release.
North Beach Athletic Director Vernon Bruni organized the event to bring the district’s coaching staff together to visualize and put in place the pieces for a high-performing athletics program that encourages students’ excellence in all aspects of their education.
The morning will kick off with Sid Otton, the winningest football coach at any level in Washington State history. Otton retired as the head coach at Tumwater High School in 2016. In his 51-year coaching career, Otton amassed an overall record of 394-131. During his time at Tumwater, the school earned 25 league championships, 27 state playoff appearances, eight state final appearances and five state championships.
Otton received the American Football Coaches Association National “Power of Influence” award in 2007. He is inducted into the WIAA Hall of Fame, the Pacific Northwest Hall of Fame, the Washington State Coaches Football Hall of Fame.
Otton established the “T-Bird Way” among his players in Tumwater — a code of behavior, expectations designed to influence young people in a positive way.
Otton will challenge the North Beach coaches to come together and develop the “Hyak Way” to unite the entire school community. Otton’s daughter, Tana Otton, has amassed an impressive high school volleyball coaching record, including four state championships.
The bulk of the day will be spent in short workshops focusing on several key areas of successful coaching and student mentorship. Joining the Otton duo will be:
• Darrel White, who will work with coaches on organization and detailed practice planning. Coach White, a 1964 graduate of Montesano High School, has been coaching wrestling for 50 years. He is a member of the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame and has received a lifetime service award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. White and his wife of 51 years, Linda, now live in Montesano.
• Denny “Doc” Daniels, a Hoquiam High School graduate, and life-long friend John Eklund, an Aberdeen High School graduate, will team up for a section on developing athletic programs that transition athletes from middle school to high school. Daniels was a longtime Chehalis wrestling coach and Eklund led a successful program at the middle school.
Both men are in the state Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame after decades-long coaching careers.
The evening’s keynote speaker, Rollins Stallworth III, was a two-sport standout — football and track — at Stanford.
Superintendent Andrew Kelly, commenting on the symposium, said, “I’ve never seen a successful high school or district that didn’t offer ways for all kids to get involved. Athletics is one of those key ways.”
“I can’t imagine a better group of mentors to work with our coaches as we strive to improve every aspect of our school district, including our athletic programs,” Kelly emphasized.
