Coach Bob McLaughlin has three different jobs: construction company owner, softball coach, and wrestling coach.
Since 1984, McLaughlin has been president of his own company, McLaughlin Renovations and Construction, Inc. Taking on a second job, McLaughlin agreed to head coach the wrestling team at Campo 17 years ago. Previously, he was an All-American wrestler at Chico State.
When the softball players needed a head coach halfway through their 2013 spring season, athletic director Tom Renno knew were to go for help.
McLaughlin explained, “Somebody had to do it and Tommy Renno knew that I had experience with the softball team before. He called me and asked me if I had the time to do it, and I did.”
McLaughlin understood that it would be difficult to balance it all, but he realized how much the softball team needed him. “When I found out that there were six seniors on the team, I knew it wasn’t right for them to throw their season away, especially when they had put four years into the program,” he said.
In the end, McLaughlin’s decision paid off. After stepping in mid-season, he guided the team to a North Coast Section (NCS) Division III championship.
“It took a lot for him to take over a struggling team and turn us into champs,” said Catcher Kristen Ghamghami.
How does he manage his busy schedule? “You just have to be relatively organized and plan ahead,” McLaughlin explained. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it.”
In a typical weekday for McLaughlin, he gets up early to do paperwork for his teams and his company, then heads to work for the day, and attends wrestling or softball practice after work from 3:30-5:30pm.
During the softball season, the coach encourages his wrestlers to participate in softball practices. “I think it’s important for the athletes to get to know each other, and that’s why I have the wrestlers come out and run bases for the girls during the softball season,” he said. “It’s fun for them, and I think it’s fun for the girls. They get to come together as athletes, not just students.”
“I appreciate that he takes the time to coach both us and the wrestling team. It takes a lot of skill and passion for one man to do all that,” said Ghamghami.
