Bob ellsberg

When Bob Ellsberg first came to Astoria to teach at Clatsop Community College, he was quickly asked to coach a couple years of little league baseball. He then volunteered to help Hall of Fame track coach, Carl Dominey. A talented, but small track team, Coach Ellsberg started with only two throwers. Bob guided them both to the state championships, a good start, but no indication of the dominant powerhouse he would produce over the next five decades.

Coach Ellsberg came from a sports loving family living in Northern California and competed in kid sports from marbles and ping-pong to the more traditional, baseball, basketball, football and track and field, where he lettered in four different sports. Going on to college at the University of California, Berkeley, he lettered in rowing, practiced with the rugby team and was also the head yell leader! After graduating college, Coach Ellsberg led a championship rowing team at Berkeley high school, sending nine athletes to Division 1 colleges, two went on to the national championships. Bob also coached successful football teams and throwers in Marin County.

But, it was with the Astoria High School throwers that Coach Ellsberg built his remarkable legacy during his coaching era, of over 200 boys and girls who competed and won medals in Oregon and Washington state meets. During his 40 plus years as Astoria’s throwing coach his athletes scored over one third of Astoria’s points at state meets. Astoria High School throwers have been listed by OSAA as the best throwers in the state at our level over the last fifty seasons.

Dozens of former Astoria throwers have gone on to make the top 10 list in colleges from the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, PLU, Linfield and Dartmouth, among others.

Bob’s approach to coaching was simple. If you’re willing to practice, you will play, no one is left behind and all of equal value. The performance goal was to improve individual marks in their throws. However, the real goal was for the student to enjoy their sport and by the end of the season, to be a more self-confident individual, who cares for and works well with others.

To reach these goals, Bob enlisted the help of his brother, Pat, additional coaches in the region and graduate throwers from former teams. As Bob says, “I don’t know everything by a long shot and if others can help the kids, more power to them.” During meets, his big smile and steady arsenal of insults have helped guide Astoria throwers through several generations of successful student athletes. Four state team championships and three second place finishes have given voice to his coaching efforts.