The Wisest Seagull

EVERETT – Leadership and relentless organization: Whether you manage a supermarket or command a powerful nation, the traits are highly valued and perilously rare. Those closest to Paul Lawrence said the retiring Everett High football coach has always possessed heaps of both.

Flashback to 1960 when Terry Ennis was a junior quarterback for Everett High. Ennis and the team’s other playmakers garnered headlines as the Seagulls rolled to a state championship, but Lawrence, Everett’s senior captain and center, anchored the offensive line.

Everett High School football coach Paul Lawrence will retire after this season, his 10th with the Seagulls.

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“He was the captain of the team,” Ennis said of Lawrence, who turns 62 in December. “He kind of led by example and was an extremely hard worker.”

That leadership and attention to detail propelled Lawrence to a successful playing career at the University of Idaho, a 13-month stint for the U.S. Army in Korea and nearly 40 years of coaching and teaching, including a career-capping return to Everett. Earlier this summer when Lawrence approached his 10th season as Everett’s head coach, he told his wife, Dawn, he was finally ready to walk away. Lawrence broke the news to his staff in August and he informed his seniors on the first day of practice.

“There were no issues involved. It was just a good time to step down,” said Lawrence, who has compiled a 41-43 record at Everett heading into tonight’s game against Mariner at Goddard Stadium.

Lawrence has already battled second thoughts. He walked off the field Tuesday after practice and told long-time assistant coach Tim Odell, “You know, I’m glad I made this announcement at the beginning of the year.”

“You think you would have decided to coach another year if you had waited?” Odell asked.

“Oh, I know I would have,” Lawrence replied.

Ennis, current football coach and athletic director at Archbishop Murphy High, said he understands Lawrence’s choice but he believes his former teammate will remain close to football.

“He’s certainly been in the game a long time,” Ennis said of Lawrence, who was an assistant coach for Ennis’ 1991 Cascade team that won a state championship. “It’s not surprising that he’d give some thought to retirement with the number of years that he’s put in.

“My hunch is that he’ll stay active in football. I can’t see him stepping away entirely.”

Even if Lawrence moves a few steps away, Everett will notice a difference.

“Paul’s very organized, and organization is half the key,” Ennis said. “If you look at Everett’s teams, they haven’t necessarily been the most talented or the most physical, but their execution is very good. That’s what Paul spends his time with, and it shows. He’s a very good classroom teacher and that translates to the football field.”

Unselfishness, a willingness to sacrifice personal glory for the good of the team, has been a recurring theme on Lawrence’s Everett teams. This year it’s embodied by senior Isaac Hicks, the Seagulls starting right tackle. The 6-foot, 219-pound Hicks was comfortable at fullback, where he was a backup last year, but when Lawrence approached him in June about switching he agreed. Hicks said he initially wasn’t thrilled with the change but, “all our best lineman graduated, so…I just did it to help the team.”

In Lawrence, Everett is losing an icon, Hicks said.

“You can tell that he just really wants to win. He’s passionate.”

Lawrence also cited Kurt Koshelnik (QB), Corey Gunnerson (FB), Blake Haug (OL), Joe Cronin (OL), Jamie Lee (QB), and Jonathan Luatua (LB) as Seagulls who either sacrificed personal glory or exceeded expectations. It’s difficult to leave a job where you build so many memorable relationships, Lawrence said.

“I’m going to miss the day-to-day contact with the kids. I’ll miss Friday night under the lights. You do miss it, but every coach has to make that decision.”

And this coach is proud of what Everett football stands for.

“Our kids have always had a reputation of playing real tough,” Lawrence said. “They’re well-poised. We’ve never had any problems with sportsmanship.”

Kamiak coach Dan Mack said Lawrence has made a positive impact throughout the area. “He’s been an outstanding example for many coaches in the Western Conference. He’s an excellent football coach.”

So how will Lawrence spend his new spare time? He’ll focus on his family, of course, and he’ll continue to unwind with his old pal, Ennis. Don’t expect their conversation to drift far from the game that has united them for so many years.

“Our wives would probably tell you that we relax by talking about football,” Ennis said. “When we get together, usually the conversation ends up there.”

They often swap books and sometimes they even go fishing and crabbing together on the Puget Sound. Even then, Lawrence is clearly a leader.

“I’m the guy who puts the bait on,” Ennis said. “He’s the captain.”

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