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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, March 23, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 7, 2005 Aaron Rayburn North Medford High School, 1988 By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Aaron Rayburn is proof that you can go home again. He’s teaching and coaching at North Medford, the same school he starred for shortly after it was created in 1986. "It’s so cool, I’ve got to tell you," says Rayburn, a 35-year-old business and marketing teacher. "A lot of my teachers and role models are still here, plus some of my real good friends. Then the coaching part has been awesome." Teaching is his first priority. He has a full load of six classes, supervises the marketing club DECA, oversees the student store and advertising for sports programs and, until this year, ran the Future Business Leaders of America club. The latter was taken off his hands to free up time to coach boys basketball. He’s the junior varsity coach and an assistant to varsity coach Tim Sam. "It’s great coming home again," says Rayburn. Advertisement Rayburn was a 6-foot-2 guard/forward for the Black Tornado, averaging about 20 points and earning Southern Oregon Conference player-of-the-year honors as a senior. Prior to his sophomore year, his family moved from Bend, where, as a freshman, he played occasionally on the varsity. Here, however, he attended Medford Mid High and played sophomore ball. "That was fine," says Rayburn, who did score 33 against the Senior High junior varsity. "I got to meet a lot of my friends through sports. It was probably better because I was going to that school anyway." The following year, North Medford evolved and Rayburn helped it to the state tournament, where it lost to Terrell Brandon-led and eventual state champion Grant in its first game. A year later, the Tornado tied with Ashland for the conference title, but its season ended with a playoff loss to Springfield. Rayburn moved on to Clackamas Community College where he played, then finished at Southern Oregon University. He first intended to play for the Raiders but wound up focusing on academics. "I decided it was time to get my degree and get out of there," says Rayburn. "I had friends who were already graduating and stuff." Rayburn got into coaching in 1994, when he was an assistant to South Medford coach Dennis Murphy. He then moved on to North, where he aided first Terry Gregg, his high school coach, then Gene Quilhaugh and now Sam. Each has had a unique style, be it defensive orientation, a pressing and up-tempo style or a system of set plays and "mini games." "I’ve seen all sides of the spectrum, which has helped me as a coach," says Rayburn. "Learning them is one thing, but teaching them is another. You learn the best when you teach." Rayburn and his wife, Cindy, have been married for four years. His stepson, Brock, is 14. When the teaching and coaching load ease, Rayburn hits the golf course. He’s only played for a dozen years but sports a 6 handicap. "I actually made fun of my dad my whole childhood and teenage years," Rayburn says of golf. "He had to bribe me with a big breakfast or something to get me to play in father-son tournaments. I thought it was an old man’s game, but now I’m addicted." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Advertisement s