My name is Tom Duggan and I currently serve as an Assistant Principal at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California. I attended and played baseball at Edison High School under Ron LaRuffa in 1981 and was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-American Team.
From Edison High School, I went on to play one year at Orange Coast College under Mike Mayne and was drafted in January (7th Round) by the California Angels and in June (1st Round Secondary Phase) by the Seattle Mariners.
I signed with the Mariners and spent four years in their organization, as well as two years in the Texas Ranger organization before being traded during the winter meetings in 1987 to the Oakland Athletics. I went to spring training with Oakland and was offered a player/coaching position, but opted to pursue different career pathways.
I went back to college in 1989, coached at Santa Ana College with Don Sneddon for five years and earned my BS degree in Kinesiology, with a minor in English Literature at California State University, Fullerton. In 1995, I became the Head Varsity Coach back at Edison, where I also earned a minor in Science and taught horticulture, introductory science, and physical education.
While teaching and coaching, I attended Chapman University and obtained my teaching credential, along with Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Instruction, as well as an Administrative Credential. I left Edison and served as the Principal at Aliso Viejo Christian School for one year, then was hired by the Garden Grove Unified School District in 2001 and have served the district for 14 years (and counting).
I have worked at Garden Grove, La Quinta, and Pacifica High Schools. I also volunteer with the Seattle Mariners Southern California Scout Team and have done so for the past six years. Baseball is my passion and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to play with, be coached by, and to coach with some amazing people. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to share my thoughts, insight, opinions, and stories through this site.
