Rob Friese, who was a walk-on before earning a scholarship, was a star player at Eastern Washington University.
MENLO/LEBAM - Rob Friese is an icon when you're discussing Willapa Valley tradition - especially when it comes to sports. Better add education to the topic, too.
Friese, who has been associated with Willapa Valley in many aspects, officially stepped down as Willapa Valley School District Superintendent of Schools ending a distinguished career at the Menlo-based school.
Friese may be more well-known for his witty sense of humor or his fiery nature on the football sidelines, but make no mistake about it, he was an intelligent and articulate educator in the Willapa Valley School District who will be missed.
Friese maintained one tried-and-true philosophy as a teacher, coach and administrator.
"The same philosophy for all," Friese told the Herald. "Try to build a team that works hard and buys what you are selling. It doesn't matter if it's a classroom, a staff, or the entire district. Don't expect out of others what you wouldn't do yourself, and never forget where you came from and what it is like in other people's shoes. I give much of the credit for my philosophies and work ethic to my parents, Skip and Evelyn. As children we were far from spoiled. A citizenship grade was more important than an academic grade. Don't make excuses, make solutions. Work hard and good things will happen. Do the right thing even when nobody is looking. I could go on, but then it would turn into a book."
Friese said the biggest changes that he's seen take place over the years in the education system are numerous. "Probably the same as any other state entity," he said. "There are more and more requirements put on schools, usually unfunded. Good teaching hasn't changed, but the way we assess teacher quality, student achievement and growth, et cetera, has changed many times over my career. When I started, it was Student Learning Objectives, now, after several acronyms, it's Every Student Succeeds, and teachers went from Instructional Theory in Practice to EVAL.
"I always wanted to have a statistic that measures what we taught students about surviving in life...their social skills, their work ethic, their responsibility," Friese added.
"A test score does not necessarily make a person successful in life," Friese continued. "How many of our graduates are viable members of society, regardless of what path they choose? That is the statistic I would like our school to be measured on. I think the biggest changes are more societal than anything else. We are in a technology world and we can't ignore that. Instead of fighting students to put their cell phones away, give them something educational to do on their phone."
Friese taught English classes from grades seven through-12, and also was a teacher of drama and weight training. He said the most difficult aspect of being a teacher is "finding a way to reach those students who seemed to have no interest in learning."
As far as the most rewarding part of being a teacher, Friese said, "succeeding in finding a way to reach those students who seemed to have no interest in learning."
Friese Began as a
Walk-on at EWU
Friese graduated from WVHS in 1981 and played on Viking football teams that won state championships when he was a sophomore and junior. Friese also played on the Viking state-winning basketball team as a senior, and was named to the all-tournament team.
In 1981, Friese attended Eastern Washington University and earned a spot on the football team as a true-freshman walk-on. As a sophomore, Friese earned a tuition scholarship, and then was offered a full-ride scholarship through 1985. Friese procured the respect of his teammates and served as a captain in 1984 and 1985.
Friese was selected as one of Eastern Washington University's "100 for 100" All-Time Football Team, one of 13 defensive backs at EWU to do so. Friese, who wore number 25 for the Eagles, starred as a cornerback where he amassed 169 career tackles, made 9 interceptions and had 16 passes broken up. As a punt returner, Friese averaged 12.1 yards per return and scored 2 touchdowns.
Friese was a scrappy player, who possessed a lot of toughness and intensity on the field. As a a senior, he helped Eastern to a 9-3 record and into the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championship Subdivision Playoffs. His 84-yard punt return for a TD in the FCS playoffs in 1985 against Northern Iowa was the longest in school history, and he had a 72-yarder for a score earlier that season versus Idaho. The 1985 team was selected into the Hall of Fame. Later Friese was selected for the Hall of Fame as an individual player/contributor.
As a student, Friese majored in English with a minor in physical education. He originally wanted to study sports medicine, "but because of football, I couldn't get enough time in the training room as a student assistant," he said.
Friese obtained his degree in 1986, and then began a career in teaching, coaching and administration. that was more opulent than his playing career.
Career Started at Ocosta
Upon graduating from EWU, Friese took a head football coaching and English teacher position at Ocosta HS during the 1990-91 school year. "I spent four years in that position before accepting an English teaching position at Willapa Valley," Friese said. "There I was assistant football, junior high basketball, and girls track coach. I became the head football coach in 1994 and spent the next 16 years in that position."
While at WVHS, the eclectic Friese enjoyed a prolific coaching stint to say the least. Friese directed the Vikings to two state football titles, including 1996 and 2001. Friese coached the Vikes to 10 league championships and his teams qualified for the postseason playoffs 16 times. His record at Willapa Valley was 144-46.
Friese said he learned the craft of coaching from several coaches.
"I learned different things from different coaches," Friese said. "Bud Sanchez, keep it simple. In college, Dick Zornes, mental toughness. Jerry Graybeal, defensive back skills and defensive philosophy. Finally, hundreds of coaches around the state that I 'stole' from."
Friese has been honored as Washington State Coaches Association District IV Football Coach of the Year and has earned league Coach of the Year honors multiple times. For several years he served as the WSCA west-side coordinator for the East-West All-State football game, and once he was the winning head coach in the B/A/AA game. He has been venerated as the Seattle Seahawks Coach of the Week, has served on that NFL teams' High School Coaches Council, and on the WIAA B Football Study Committee.
As head coach of the girls track team, Friese's squads captured 12 league titles. Three times his teams placed third in the state and once fourth. Friese was also the assistant track