Something extra was added to the menu for Mike Churchill at a breakfast welcoming school district staff in the week prior to the official first bell.
The high school athletic director earned recognition as the winner of the school district’s seventh annual Spirit award. Recipients exemplify extraordinary service to others.
“Mike has built a strong and vibrant athletics program that enables our students to develop leadership skills they will have for a lifetime,” Supt. Sherine Smith said in a statement. “It also gives students the chance to meet personal challenges and learn the value of teamwork and camaraderie.”
Churchill played football in college at Mt. San Antonio Junior College and University of La Verne, where he earned undergraduate degrees in economics and history. He earned a master’s in physical education administration from Northern Arizona University.
He has coached or worked as an athletic director since 1967 at 10 high schools, two junior colleges and one university, including leading two CIF championship teams.
His stint in Laguna began in 2007, which included coaching varsity football for two seasons. Of the school’s 998 students, two-thirds participated in one or more sports last year.
