San Benito High School Principal Duane Morgan is certainly ready
to wrestle with any problems that come his way.
In addition to his many administrative duties, Morgan is also
active in coaching and refereeing sports, especially wrestling.
Morgan was recently honored as one of the recipients for the
2003 Central Coast Section Distinguished Service Award.
San Benito High School Principal Duane Morgan is certainly ready to wrestle with any problems that come his way.
In addition to his many administrative duties, Morgan is also active in coaching and refereeing sports, especially wrestling.
Morgan was recently honored as one of the recipients for the 2003 Central Coast Section Distinguished Service Award.
Morgan and his wife, Leanna, came to Hollister eight years ago while he was still commuting to Santa Teresa High School in San Jose. In addition to Santa Teresa, Morgan also held various teaching and coaching positions for 18 years with the Oak Grove, Piedmont Hills and Overfelt high schools.
When the opening for a vice principal opened up four years ago at San Benito High School, Morgan jumped on it. Morgan took over as principal this year.
“I really like the community,” Morgan said. “We moved down here for the community and it hasn’t disappointed us. It is a great school and I want my kids to go through here.”
That may be awhile because the oldest of his three boys is in first grade. His wife also works for the school as a physical education teacher.
Morgan began coaching at Oak Grove, his high school alma mater. During his coaching career, Morgan has had a 96 percent winning record and has coached six All-Americans during his tenure as wrestling coach.
“We had some real good athletes and good programs,” Morgan said. “It was exciting being around them. I still see them and they bring their kids out to tournaments. The program is kind of similar to the one at San Benito.”
Morgan takes pride in having eight students teaching the sport of wrestling. In addition to athletics, Morgan is certainly concerned about academics.
“I like being in the position I am in now,” Morgan said. “You get to impact a lot of kids, not just the athletic kids. That is why I got in this business – to help kids.”
A principal position is not always the most glamorous work, but Morgan goes about his job with a positive attitude.
“Every day you come to work and you have a different situation you have to deal with,” Morgan said. “It keeps you young and vibrant and keeps you thinking.”
The toughest part of being a first-year principal is the disciplinary part, especially the expulsions, Morgan said.
“The biggest part is learning all the responsibilities and prioritizing,” Morgan said. “Keeping it all level is a tough thing to do. It is mostly trying to help people.”
Morgan was named Coach of the Year four times in the Mt. Hamilton Athletic League.
Even with his background, Morgan leaves the coaching at San Benito in the capable hands of wrestling coach Matt Olejnik.
In addition to coaching, Morgan serves as the tournament director for the CIF Central Coast Section wrestling championships. Morgan has refereed both softball and wrestling at several different levels. But he makes sure not to referee any of the matches his school is involved in.
Morgan is currently involved in USA Wrestling and is the chairman of the committee selecting the Greco-Roman Olympic coach. He is also on the committee selecting the freestyle and women’s freestyle coaches.
“You look at their experience and what their athletes have done and if they will represent the United States properly,” Morgan said. “It is tough because there are some good coaches in the United States. It is fun because you get to meet a lot of people.”
When Morgan is not busy with his wrestling, school or family duties, he finds time for an occasional round of golf.
The Central Coast Section Distinguished Service Award is intended to honor those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Central Coast Section and the California Interscholastic Federation over a period of years.
This award is reserved for truly outstanding individuals who have made personal and professional sacrifices in order to promote, develop and positively influence interscholastic athletics.
Morgan said he is a principal first and foremost.
“As the principal, you have to be careful so you are not perceived as an athletic principal because there are a lot of other kids and teachers who are not in athletics,” Morgan said. “I want to support every kid and teacher that I can.”
