Perkinson departs Mira Costa after coaching soccer for three decades
by Macy McKeegan
After compiling a record of 534 wins, 112 losses, and 66 ties, over three decades, Patty Perkinson has retired as head coach of the Mira Costa High School girls soccer program
“I knew it was time. It was great to finally go out on top,” Perkinson told friends during a surprise retirement dinner last Wednesday at Grunions in Manhattan Beach.
Perkinson had been named Bay League Coach of the Year four times, had won 13 league championships, and had led her team to the CIF title match four times.
Finally, last season, her Mustang girls brought home the school’s first CIF soccer championship with a convincing 5 to 1 victory over soccer powerhouse Oak Hills.
Perkinson’s passion for soccer began while growing up in Palos Verdes and playing AYSO soccer ,and then playing for the FRAM club team. After attending Miraleste High, she played at San Diego State, a Division 1 school, and then on the Olympic Development Team.
An injury ended her playing career, and brought her back to the South Bay, where her coaching career began as a physical education teacher at Riviera Hall Lutheran School. Her first high school coaching position was at Redondo Union, where she co-coached girls soccer and softball with Tim Hall. The two would also co-coach softball at Mira Costa and Peninsula, as well as co-coach Peninsula’s surf team
“We were a good team together,” Hall said at the retirement party.
Finally, Perkinson had the opportunity to start a soccer program at Mira Costa.
“The relationships that Patty formed with her players over the years made their lives better.” Hall said. “She’s committed her whole life to making other people’s lives better.”
Retired Mira Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale described Perkinson as “having a magnetism that other people are drawn to. There was never a separation between her team, the parents, or the community. Her real talent is community building.”
Dale described himself as one of the people Perkinson drew into soccer.
“Because of Patty, I became a fan of soccer to the point where I watch it on TV. I’d watch a Chelsea game in a heartbeat,” said Dale.
Perkinson credits her success to having never stopped learning.
“The girls taught me a lot. If you trust your players and want to learn what they have to say, you can get great results,” she said.
“All those qualities that you imagine a leader would have, like strength, courage, and confidence, and being a good role model are qualities that Patty has,” Hall said. “She got all these really talented players to play with heart and passion for their high school team.” ER