Tom Lawrence began coaching the throwing events at Ventura County track and field powerhouse, Rio Mesa High School, in 1997. He was hired as the men's and women's throws coach at Ventura College in 1999. He was recommended for this position by his predecessor and mentor, former Olympic shot putter, Dave Laut.

Throwers under Coach Lawrence's tutelage have made significant improvements in all four throwing events. He has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to peak his throwers at the right time of the season. These late season personal bests are a direct result of individualized practice routines, Olympic weightlifting programs, video analysis, and visualization techniques.

The track and field season of 2009 marked the grand opening of one of the finest throwing facilities in the state of California. An Olympic size hammer/discus cage was installed, as well as two world class shot put rings with crushed granite landing sectors. This facility was the envy of every school in the conference during its grand opening at the 2009 Western State Conference Preliminary meet.

As a lifelong Ventura County resident, Coach Lawrence is committed to local athletes. He believes Ventura County provides more than enough local talent to win championships and break records. Therefore, he is dedicated to identifying, recruiting, and nurturing the best throwers the local community have to offer.

Lawrence's 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.

COACH LAWRENCE'S STABLE OF THROWERS

Jerome Stevens: (Rio Mesa HS) 1997 - School record holder in Discus. Football scholarship to Univ. of Washington.

Natasha Pomelli: (Rio Mesa HS) 1998 - School record holder in Shot and Discus. Competed in 2000 CCCAA State Championship in Discus while at Ventura College.

Jason Beck: (Hueneme HS) 2002 – 2nd place finish in Javelin at the CCCAA State Championship (All-American).

Miguel Campos: (Oxnard HS) 2003 – Broke the school record in Hammer and competed in the CCCAA SoCal Champiohship.

Sasha O'Brien: (Nordhoff HS) 2007 - Broke the school record in Hammer and competed in the CCCAA State Championship in Hammer and Shot.

Leilani Howard: (Ventura HS) 2008 – Western State Conference Champion in Hammer and runner-up in Discus.

Randi Hicks: (Rio Mesa HS) 2008-2009 – Broke school record in Javelin. 2008 Western State Conference Champion in Shot Put and Javelin. Runner-up at 2008 CCCAA SoCal Champiohship and CCCAA State Championship in Javelin (All-American). Repeated as Western State Conference Champion in Javelin in 2009. CCCAA SoCal Champion and CCCAA State Champion in Javelin (All-American).

Cynthia Sanchez: (Channel Islands HS) 2010 - broke the school record in the hammer throw at the 2010 CCCAA SoCal Championships and competed in the CCCAA State Championship in hammer throw and shot put.

Brianna Panapa: (St. Bonaventure HS) 2011- competed in the CCCAA State Championships in the Hammer throw and javelin.

Tevin Jones: (Hueneme HS) 2012- Western State Conference Champion in Hammer Throw and 7th place finish at CCCAA SoCal Championships.

Oscar Juarez: (Pacifica HS) 2012- broke the school record in the Hammer Throw and finished 10th at CCCAA SoCal championships.

Keshona Grier: (Channel Islands HS) 2012 - Western State Conference Champion in Javelin and 4th place finish at CCCAA State Championships (All-American). Western States Conference Runner-up in Hammer Throw.

Amber Panapa: (St. Bonaventure HS) 2012-2013 - Back to back Western State Conference Champion in Discus and 3rd place finish at CCCAA State Champiohship (All-American).

Jessica Johns: (Canyonville Christian Academy) 2012-2013 - 2012 Western State Conference Champion in Shot Put and Hammer Throw. 2013 Western States Conference Champion in Hammer Throw. 4th place finish at 2013 CCCAA SoCal Championship in Hammer Throw and competed in CCCAA State Championship.

Brooke Dixon: (Pacifica HS) 2013-2014 - 2013 Western State Conference Champion in Shot Put and 2nd place finish at SoCal Championships in that event. 5th place finish at 2013 CCCAA State Championship. 2014 Western State Conference Champion in Hammer Throw. 3rd place finish at 2014 CCCAA State Championship in Shot Put (All-American).

RECENT DOMINANCE

2012: Pirates' Women Throwers scored 67 of their team's 91.5 points (73%) at the Western State Conference Championships.

2013: Pirates' Women Throwers scored 82 of their team's 111 points (74%) at the Western State Conference Championships.

2014: Pirates' Women Throwers scored 50 of their team's 77 points (65%) at the Western State Conference Championships.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT COACH LAWRENCE

Dave Laut (Hueneme HS AD) 1979 Pan American gold medalist and 1984 Olympic bronze medalist in men's shot put. "I have known Tom and the Lawrence family for as long as I can remember and can attest to his sincere devotion and loyalty toward teaching, coaching, and high expectations for his students and athletes. His knowledge of weight training, plyometrics, and specific throwing techniques is outstanding."

Brian Fitzgerald (Rio Mesa HS AD) 1995 CIF-SS Track Coach of the Year, LA '84 Foundation Track and Field Lead Instructor, Mt. SAC Hall of Fame, 45 league championships while coaching at Rio Mesa HS. "I've seen Tom refine and develop his techniques at an amazing rate. He sets lofty goals for both himself and his teams and puts in an enormous amount of time to ensure that their experience on his team is a positive one. I believe him to be ethical, conscientious, and hard working. He is a fine role model and his athletes gain life long benefits from his guidance."

Jon Mack (Ventura College Head Football Coach) Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame member, who coached three track and field teams to CIF Championship Runner Up finishes, four All Americans, and nine All State athletes. "I have known Tom since hiring him as a Social Science teacher and football coach at Saint Bonaventure High School in 1992. He was the first and only Assistant Head Football Coach I have ever had. I see in Tom many of the same qualities that I possess: leadership, confidence, patience, desire, and the ability to stay on the cutting edge of sports. His enthusiasm is contagious and anyone who knows him can't help but become excited about the things he embraces."

Fred Morgan ( Ventura HS Throws Coach) SDSU Track and Field Alumni who competed in the javelin in the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Tokyo, bronze medalist at the 1991 South Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, American Samoa national record holder in discus and javelin. "Tom Lawrence is a student of the throws and attends clinics regularly to stay on the cutting edge of coaching these events. He has a keen eye for diagnosing potential faults in techniques and the savvy to make the necessary corrections. I have and will continue to encourage my throwers to attend Ventura College in order to benefit from his expertise."

Ken Reeves 2 time National High School of the Year for Cross Country. Coached 22 Varsity league championship teams and 16 Individual CIF Champions in Track and Field as well as 11 State Championship teams in CC. Assistant Program Director for LA 84 Track/AAF and Field Coaching Education Program. Member of the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame, the Mt. Sac Cross Country Hall of Fame and Sunkist Indoor Games Hall of Fame. "I have had the honor to both watch and coach with Tom Lawrence. He has the unique ability to communicate well with both the neophyte thrower and the elite thrower. Tom takes time to work with any level thrower. He has turned beginning throwers into state level competitiors and he has turned elite throwers into Division 1 level throwers. He is the type of coach you would wnat your child to have. He works hard, teaches correct technique, and he instills the correct ethics about the sport, about education, and about life."