Long Beach City College Athletic Director, Randy Totorp is in charge of organizing and managing the many sports within the Viking’s Athletic Department. On April 9, Totorp came back home to LBCC, just in time for the return of college athletes, last month on April 12 for the start of sports conditioning.
“At a certain point in coaching you realize that you want to make a difference for the young people you coach. As my career developed I realized that an athletic director has the ability to impact many more lives. I love athletics, I love community college education and so the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity is very meaningful to me,” said Totorp.
According to Totorp, one of his goals is to get students back on-campus. That is the first goal and plan, because during COVID it is a challenge.
“Right now we have successfully brought all of our programs back on-campus following protocols for conditioning.”
According to Lauren Sterbens, a sports information specialist for four years at Long Beach City college said, “Randy Totorp is a great colleague to work with, and I am excited for his determination that he is putting forward to getting student athletes back on-campus for conditioning and practice so we can safely move toward competition and games.”
The next goal is to see all of the LBCC athletes compete during this upcoming 2021-2022 season school year. The normal fall competition for sports starts around September.
When Totorp was younger he played many sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer.
“My favorite sport growing up was basketball. I still love watching basketball today. The sport I ended up with the most success playing was men’s volleyball,” said Totorp.
Totorp spent some of his career working at various schools like Riley Elementary, Star King K-8, St. John Bosco High School, Rio Hondo Community College, El Camino City College, Saddleback City College and Long Beach City College.
Totorp is a Lakewood High alumni. After Lakewood, he played two seasons of men’s volleyball at LBCC from 1994-1995 and then transferred and attended San Diego State University.
In addition, he received his teaching credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) in the year of 1999. He also received his bachelor’s degree from San Diego State in social science before earning his masters degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2001.
Totorp was first hired at LBCC as a part-time assistant coach from 1998-1999. Since that time, he has served many roles at the college; assistant women’s volleyball coach, adjunct faculty, interim athletic director and full time athletic director.
“At the collegiate and high school level, I have only coached men’s and women’s volleyball,” said Totorp.
He coached the LBCC men’s volleyball team for eight seasons, successfully winning seven conference titles and three state championships (2004, 2006, 2009).
Totorp, Champion was the head coach of the LBCC men’s volleyball team, successfully winning seven conference titles, and three state championships from the years of 2004, 2006. and 2009.
Totorp said, “There is so much uncertainty even still with COVID and athletics, but I do feel good about where we are currently because it is very much so looking possible.”