Tom Marier

Born April 15, 1925 in Spokane, WA, Coach Tom Marier was a standout high school athlete at John R. Rogers High School playing football, basketball and baseball. After graduation in 1943, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Coach Tom Marier then attended WSU in Pullman, WA playing football (in a leather helmet) and baseball, graduating in 1951. His professional baseball career was cut short by injuries in 1954 and his teaching – coaching career began in Prosser, WA.

If you attended Medford Senior High School from 1957 to 1986 or North Medford High School from 1986 to 1999, then you may know Coach Tom Marier. Coach Tom Marier taught English during the school year and Driver’s Training in the summer while coaching football, basketball and baseball. Coach Tom Marier passed away on November 13, 2013 at the age of 88 years old.

This website is designed to honor the many years that he devoted to Black Tornado athletics and also is meant to be a vehicle for those who benefited from Coach Tom Marier’s skill and generosity to contribute to the Coach Tom Marier Memorial Scholarship fund. Coach Tom Marier Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to graduates of North Medford High School based on need and are given to selected athletes based upon personal criteria that is reviewed by the scholarship fund and North Medford High School Administrators.

In early 1957, Coach Tom Marier got a call from an old football coach at WSU who told him that there was a good opportunity to teach and coach in Medford, Oregon. In September, Coach Tom Marier joined the Black Tornado sports program coaching three sports and teaching English at Medford Senior High School.

In 1959, Coach Tom Marier helped make state history which survives today as the Black Tornado football, basketball and baseball teams became the first and (still) only teams in Oregon history to win State Championships in the same year, known as The Triple Crown.

In 1999, after 43 years coaching Black Tornado football, Coach Tom Marier retired from coaching, having been on the sidelines for 6 of the Black Tornado’s 7 State Championships. In addition to the 6 football State Championships, Coach Tom Marier coached in 1 basketball and 1 baseball State Championship making a total of 8 Black Tornado State Championships during his legendary career. Did he coach your team?

Coach Tom Marier has friends in nearly every city. It was difficult to travel with Coach Tom Marier and not run into an acquaintance or old friend.
Coach Tom Marier took up golf on his 40th birthday and played twice a week for most of his life. Some of his best golfing buddies were those he worked and previously coached with. And well into his 80’s, he could hit the ball a LONG way.

Coach Tom Marier also liked to talk about sports over a cup of coffee at the Kopper Kitchen or Shari’s. He had a regular group of guys that would usually join him every morning and afternoon.

Coach Tom Marier may have been best known for his FIRM handshake that simply said you have been good friends for a very long time. His genuine smile and willingness to help those who wanted to improve are just some of the traits that made Coach Tom Marier unique.