Chinook Junior High School 196501967 Timberline High School Head Coach 1968-1986 Timberline High School Assistant Coach 1991-present John Birbeck wrestled at Mark Morris High School as a junior and senior placing 4th in state his senior year in 1960. John was awarded the Outstanding Athlete Award as a senior. While in college he earned his BA degree from the University of Washington in 1965 and his MA degree from Portland State University in 1970. John Birbeck's 46 year coaching career began in 1965 at Chinook Junior High School in Lacey, Washington. In 1968 Coach Birbeck started the wrestling program at Timberline High School where success came quickly. His team won the 1975 2A State Wrestling Championships after a 2nd place finish in 1974. Over his 16 years as head coach at Timberline High School Birbeck had a dual match record of 121-79-1. Timberline won four league and four regional championships in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1978. During his head coaching career, Birbeck coached 28 state placers and 3 state champions. Coach Birbeck was also active in the Olympic styles of wrestling. Timberline High School hosted numerous age group and high school tournaments including the State Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Cultural Exchange Qualifying tournaments. Timberline High School also hosted the Japanese Cultural Exchange team in 1978. Birbeck coached a Washington State team in the Mexico City Tournament in 1979. In addition to hosting tournaments, John was actively involved in the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association serving as a regional representative on their executive board. For his contributions he was awarded the Black Hills Coach of the Year in 1975, inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Timberline High School Hall of Fame in 1989. Coach Birbeck has continued to stay actively involved in wrestling serving as an assistant coach for his son Jeff who has been the head coach at Timberline High School the past 18 years. John and his wife Maureen reside in Olympia where they continue to enjoy their four adult children and their families.