Brian Babbitt

It would be difficult to find a person that has given more time and energy to the Astoria High Athletic Department than Brian Babbitt. Brian began giving his time and energy to the school’s Athletic Department in the Fall of 1981 as a member of the Fishermen Freshmen Football Team. Four years later he could boast of being one of Astoria High’s premier three sport student-athletes.

Brian’s football career included earning two varsity letters and earning 1st team All-League recognition as a wide receiver and punter his senior campaign. Interestingly, he also earned a cameo appearance in the movie, The Goonies, which had a scene filmed at John Warren Stadium/Gyro Field.

Brian’s basketball career also included earning two varsity letters. Impressively, his senior year, he was named to the 1st team All-League Team. He was voted by his teammates as the Gordon Scott Most Outstanding Player (MVP), and he represented Astoria High and the state of Oregon in the Class 3A All-Star Game. Furthermore, his play and leadership helped keep the Astoria High Boys Basketball program in the OSAA. Class 3A state playoffs in both his junior and senior seasons.

Brian’s baseball career was very similar to his basketball career. He earned two varsity letters. His senior year he was named to the team All-League Team as an outfielder, was voted by his teammates as the team’s Most Valuable Player, and represented Astoria High and the state of Oregon in the Class 3A All-Star series. Brian placed the exclamation point on his outstanding prep career by earing 1st Team All-State status as an outfielder his senior season.

After high school, Brian attended Pacific University where he played basketball and baseball. He later transferred to Oregon State University where he graduated in 1992. Soon after, Brian began substitute teaching in Clatsop County and coaching at Broadway Middle School in Seaside, as well as at Astoria Middle School. He began a full time teaching career at Astoria Middle School in 1994, teaching Physical Education and coaching football, basketball, wrestling, and track. He continued to do this for the next ten years.

Brian then served the Fishermen baseball program as head coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Both years the Fishermen won the Cowapa League title and in his first year as head coach in 2011, the Fishermen won the OSAA Class 4A State Championship. Brian deservedly received recognition by the Cowapa League as their “Coach of the Year” and importantly, Brian received the Class 4A Baseball “Coach of the Year” honor by the Oregon Coaches Association.

Other proud moments for Brian in his coaching career would include his help re-instituting wrestling at Astoria Middle School and his work to help start the first youth football program in Astoria. Brian has coached sixty-five sport seasons in his career working for the Astoria School District. At the time of this induction, Brian is still teaching in the Astoria School District at Astor Elementary.