This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Kevin Rigby's 38 year-career as the Woods Cross boys' soccer coach began in an unusual way.
In 1977, when he was beginning his career as a history teacher, then principal Pares Curtis asked him what he knew about soccer.
"I know you don't touch the ball with your hands," said Rigby, who remembers the principal said that was enough knowledge. It was 1977 and, though soccer wasn't a sanctioned sport, Rigby became the coach.
Rigby recently retired as the Woods Cross boys coach, a career where he recorded about 500 wins and won seven state titles. He also coached the girls' team from 1989 to 2009, where he won 200 games and three state championships.
He said that the thing he is most proud of in his career is the fact that in 38 years he never received a yellow or red card for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"I believed in treating parents, players and referees with respect," said Rigby Monday. "You could win with good players, good coaching and playing within the rules. I tried to make coaching an extension of the classroom. If you teach things right, everyone wins."
Rigby said that in the mid-80s, his boys' team went 56 games without a loss.
He has seen some major changes in 38 years.
"In 1977, when I started coaching the boys, you couldn't buy a soccer ball in Utah," recalled Rigby. "I had to mail order them in. The only boys who had experience were the sons of servicemen who had served overseas and a few kids from Latin America. A few kids had a year or two of experience.
"Now, we get kids coming into high school with 10 years of experience. Coaching has changed. I didn't know much when I started."
Rigby will remain at the school as a history teacher. No replacement has been selected yet.
— Tom Wharton