Special Teams Coordinator Tom Lawrence enters his 16th year coaching football at Ventura College.  He also will tutor the running backs for a second straight year in 2014, a position he coached for the Pirates from 1999-2005.  He coached the defensive backs for six seasons.  Lawrence has also served as the Special Teams Coordinator at VC since 1999.  The Pirates led the National Northern Division of the SCFCA in pass defense in 2009.  The pirate secondary led the entire state in 2008 and finished second in state rankings in 2007. In 2008 All State safety Travaun Nixon (UTEP) led the conference in tackles as a freshman and was leading the state in interceptions his sophomore year at corner, before a season ending injury in week seven of 2009. His 2007 secondary was led by All State safety Chris Golder (West Virginia Wesleyan).

His special teams have been ranked among the state’s elite units for over a decade.  In 2009 Tyler Stampler broke the school record for longest FG (53 yds.) and most FG’s in a game with 5.  His kickoff return units led the state in average yards per return in 2007 and 2006.  This feat led to Terrell Lee-Davis and Gabriel Bostic being named JC All-American kick return specialists in 2006 and 2007 respectively.  From 2001 to 2005 the Pirates blocked an average of 10 kicks per season.  In 2002 they broke the school record for blocked kicks in a season with 13, led by Will Poole’s (USC/Miami Dolphins) six blocked kicks.  In 2002 John Koker (Univ. of San Diego) was a first team All-WSC punter and kicker.   Punter Paul Czerniak (Tusculum) was selected All-State in 1999 and return specialist Jeremy Jackson was selected All-WSC the same year.

As Receivers Coach, Lawrence tutored the two single season receptions leaders at Ventura College.  Chris Brewer (Wyoming/San Francisco 49er’s) recorded 66 catches in 2004 and Charles Dillon (Washington State/Indianapolis Colts/Green Bay Packers) broke that record in 2005 with 69 receptions.  Dillon finished his career at VC as the career receptions leader with 125 catches in two seasons.  Other offensive standouts coached by Lawrence were WR Derrick Smith (West Virginia), All-State WR Aaron Neal (West Virginia), RB Marcus Crawford (Utah State) and All American TE John Wadkowski (Wyoming).

Coach Lawrence began his coaching career as the head freshman coach at Westlake HS in 1990. He spent the 1991 season at Hueneme HS, as the Varsity Defensive Backs Coach and JV Defensive Coordinator.  From 1992 to 1994 he coached linebackers at Saint Bonaventure HS.  He was elevated to Defensive Coordinator in 1993 and Assistant Head Coach in 1994.  In 1995 he returned to his alma mater, Rio Mesa High School, for four seasons serving as Freshman Head Coach, JV Head Coach and Varsity Defensive Line Coach.  Lawrence has also coached the throwing events for the Ventura College Track and Field program since 1999, where he has mentored numerous school record holders as well as conference, So Cal and state champions.

As linebacker at Rio Mesa HS, he was the 1983 Frontier League Defensive Player of the Year, and voted First Team All Ventura County and First Team All-CIF.  His six interceptions during his senior season was a school record for linebackers.  He continued his playing career at Ventura College and Cal State Northridge, where he started at linebacker and all special teams units.

His educational background includes a HS diploma from Rio Mesa HS in Oxnard, AA Degree from Ventura College, BS Degree in Sociology from Cal State Northridge, California Clear Teaching Credential from National University in Sherman Oaks and a Masters Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.