Wigod is new commissioner

Rob Wigod turned 52 Friday, the same day the CIF Southern Section named him as its new commissioner.

Wigod will take over as commissioner of the largest section in the state that runs high school athletics on Aug. 2 for Jim Staunton, who is retiring after 11 years on the job. Wigod will be the ninth commissioner in the section’s history.

For almost 40 years, Wigod has been involved with the section as a player, coach and administrator. He is currently an assistant commissioner. The last 10 years he has spent them as the section’s administrator for football, wrestling and baseball, and at one time he was in charge of girls’ water polo, swimming and diving.

“I am thrilled to be selected as the next commissioner,” Wigod said in a press release before thanking the executive committee and Staunton for their support. “I pledge to them, and to all of our stakeholders, my total commitment to leading this organization to the best of my ability in the time ahead.”

Wigod has coached football at his alma mater Long Beach Wilson and then at Lakewood, where he served as the boys’ athletic director and baseball coach. Wigod also coached baseball at Los Alamitos and was the boys’ athletic director at the school.

In two seasons as the Griffins’ baseball coach in 1999 and 2000, Wigod led the team to Sunset League titles and the quarterfinals and semifinals of the playoffs.

Wigod earned his B.A. degree and secondary schools teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach. He earned his master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University.

“I am delighted for Rob as he certainly deserves the position,” Staunton said in the press release. “For more than 10 years he has been devoted to this organization and has clearly proven he has the leadership skills necessary to do a great job.”

— From staff reports