Paul Briggs

Steve Virgen

Since age 8, Paul Briggs knew what he wanted to do in life. When he

first saw the game of football, he didn’t want to take his eyes off

it. He told his mother, “I’m going to play that game and I’m going to

coach it.”

After countless awards, thousands of players, and 55 years of

carrying the clipboard, Briggs is secure in the fact that he found

his destiny. He has always followed one motto that remains true.

“If a man loves his work, he’s going to be a happy man,” said

Briggs, who, this fall, will enter his 19th season with Orange Coast

College as the special teams coach.

At age 83, Briggs still gets after it, still loves his work and is

still a happy man. There is much wisdom and a refreshing zest for

life that has resulted from playing in the NFL, fighting in World War

II, falling in love with his wife, Sally, and staying in love with

her.

The highlights of his day include, telling Sally he loves her and

then immersing himself in his other love: football. Just as he does

his wife, he cherishes just about every element of football.

“When I walk to practice and the players are out there doing their

thing,” Briggs said. “The doggone hair on the back of my neck rises.

My head starts to twitch ... I see what is in store for me for the

rest of the afternoon and I’m truly walking in heaven.”

For the past 18 years, Briggs has worked as a position coach for

the Pirates, mainly wherever he was needed. He was the defensive line

coach for 15 years, and for the past three years, he has been the

special teams coordinator.

Football’s scenery spurs excitement in Briggs, yet it is the

everyday challenge of coaching players that brings about his sense of

heaven. He said he always aims to teach his players to become better

Americans, better husbands, better fathers, better people and,

lastly, better football players.

In his home in Santa Ana, Briggs has his own office, which he

calls, “the Pit.” It is there where he will compile statistics, map

out projections and formulate strategies. Aside from the intricacies

of the game, Briggs also enjoys forming relationships and passing

along his knowledge.

“If you let your heart shake hands with another person’s heart and

you’re willing to pay the same price as that person, he’ll shake

hands with you,” Briggs said. “That’s all a motivational challenge

for me.”

The many challenges and the different tests football provides

leads Briggs to call the game his addiction and one of four aspects

that rule his life.

“I’m a great believer in commitment,” Briggs said. “In my life,

I’m committed to my country, my family -- I have three women who

ruled my life: my mother, wife and daughter -- third I have my

addiction, which is football and then there is also the Lord,

because, let’s face it, none of us would be standing here if it

wasn’t for him.”

Briggs had a few near-death experiences in World War II. He earned

the Purple Heart while fighting in the Navy. He wanted to fight.

After he heard his brother Harold was injured in the war, he wanted

to get in the action. That’s the mentality forged by spending most of

his life in the trenches.

Briggs was a standout offensive tackle and defensive end for the

University of Colorado before and after fighting in the war. In 1943,

when he had a short leave, he met the love of his life, Sally. He

still remembers what she wore on their first date.

“She wore an orange dress that had big buttons on it,” Briggs said

with a smile, as Sally nodded in agreement, sitting across from her

husband of 57 years. “My hobby is basically telling Sally that I love

her. Sometimes, in the morning, I will sing her a little song. I give

her a kiss. We hold hands. We thank the Lord for getting us through

the night ... and, at night, we thank him for getting us through the

day.”

After college, Briggs spent a year and a half with the Detroit

Lions as an offensive tackle and outside linebacker. His contract was

for $6,500. He endured a serious knee injury, yet the experience

helped lead him to the coaching profession he had always longed for.

After his NFL stint, Briggs went on to become one of the best high

school coaches in Bakersfield. He started his career in Casper, Wyo.,

spent two years there and then another two years at Rocky Fork High

in Colorado, before moving on to his distinguished career in

Bakersfield.

Briggs coached at Bakersfield High for 33 years. He guided four

undefeated teams to CIF titles and compiled a 244-99-12 record,

including a 27-game winning streak. He was named the National High

School Coach of the Year in 1972.

After finishing in Bakersfield and retiring in 1986, he continued

his career at Orange Coast.

How much longer will he coach?

“If I can get two more years at OCC, I’ll have 20,” Briggs said.

“That would be 57 years as a coach. Then we’ll see what else I can

do, maybe more.”