Biography
Rob Wigod grew up in Long Beach, California and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1977. After high school, Rob matriculated to California State University, Long Beach graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. While at CSULB, Rob began coaching football at Wilson High School and realized he wanted to become an educator. In 1983, he began teaching in the Long Beach Unified School District, first at Herbert Hoover Middle School for one year, and then Lakewood Senior High School for 14 years. At Lakewood High School, Rob taught U.S. Government, U.S. History and Criminal/Civil Law, while also coaching Varsity Football, Varsity Baseball and serving as Boys Athletic Director.
In August, 1988, during the time he worked at Lakewood High School, Rob earned his Masters Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.
After 15 years in the Long Beach Unified School District, Rob accepted the position of Head Baseball Coach and Boys Athletic Director at Los Alamitos High School, where he also taught U.S. Government. In his two years there, the Griffins were Sunset League Baseball Champions both years and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Baseball Playoffs, reaching the Quarterfinals in 1999 and the Semifinals in 2000. In 1999, Rob was selected as Orange County Baseball Coach of the Year by the Orange County Register and the L.A. Times as well as the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Coach of the Year. Rob was selected as Sunset League Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000.
In August, 2000, Rob became an Assistant Commissioner for the CIF Southern Section, an organization of 560 member high schools that offer 28 sports for Boys and Girls. Rob worked as an Assistant Commissioner for 11 years, where his primary responsibilities were managing and conducting championships in football, wrestling and baseball, while also working with student eligibility and sports officials.
On August 2, 2011, Rob became the 9th CIF Southern Section Commissioner of Athletics and retired on August 1, 2023, as the third longest tenured Commissioner in the organization’s history. Some noteworthy accomplishments during Rob’s tenure include establishing a social media program across many platforms, implementing the CIFSSHome electronic communications system for member schools, adopting the competitive equity playoff model across 14 sports, expanding championship opportunities, especially for Girls Sports, in Wrestling, Lacrosse, Cheer, Beach Volleyball and Flag Football, initiating online ticketing for all Southern Section Championships, building and maintaining a strong financial position for the organization and overseeing the CIF Southern Section’s 100th Anniversary celebration.
Rob began teaching in the Concordia University Master’s Degree Program in Coaching and Athletic Administration 17 years ago and was honored as the Teacher of the Year for the 2009-2010 school year. In 2012, Rob was selected as a Concordia University California Coaches Conference Legacy in Sports Award winner.
Rob is currently serving on the National Association of Sports Officials Board of Directors, the Long Beach City College Board of Governors and the Long Beach Century Club Board.
Rob and his wife Kelly live in Seal Beach and have two daughters: Hailey, a graduate of the University of Redlands, who works for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, and Kate, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, who works as Director of Operations for a family landscape design business in Waynesboro, Virginia.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree, History – California State University, Long Beach – 1982
- Master’s Degree, Education – Azusa Pacific University – 1988
Honors & Accolades
- Los Alamitos High School Baseball Hall of Fame – 2003
- Concordia University – MCAA Teacher of the Year – 2009-2010
- National Football Foundation, Riverside County – Contribution to Football – 2011
- City of Lakewood Hall of Fame – Outstanding Contribution to Youth Sports – 2011
- Southern California Football Coaches – Distinguished Service Award – 2012
- Concordia University – Legacy in Sports Award – 2012
- Long Beach Wilson High School Athletic Hall of Fame – 2014
- Los Alamitos Unified School District – Hero of the Heart Award – 2019
- City of Lakewood Hall of Fame – McDonald’s Press On Award – 2022
- Citrus Belt Area Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame – 2023
- Long Beach Century Club Hall of Fame – 2023
Courses Taught
- MCAA/MSCE 510 Principles of Coaching and Leadership
- MCAA/MSCE 577 Applied Exercise Sciences and Strategies for Coaching Baseball
- MCAA/MSCE 590 Coaching Academy – Current
- MCAA/MSCE 591 Athletic Director Institute – Current
- MCAA/MSCE 595 Culminating Project