Kevin Goin had a distinguished career as a coach and educator in Oregon before returning home to raise his children in Astoria about a decade ago.

Goin, a science teacher at Astoria High School, coached basketball for the Fishermen for eight years before stepping down in 2022. He made the choice so he could spend more time with his two sons.

“My last year coaching the high school team, I missed every one of my sons’ basketball games because of how the calendar fell,” he said. “So me and my wife sat down and talked about how much time we missed with the kids and how much of a time commitment coaching high school was.

“I didn’t know anything different, but realized spending time with the kids was the most important thing.”

Goin found a way to spend more time with his fourth and sixth grade sons while also continuing to coach. He is involved with the Astoria Parks and Recreation Department as a basketball and soccer coach.

“I can still use my skills and knowledge to help serve the community,” Goin said. “I feel like the younger kids don’t get the chance to be coached and learn about different sports. That seems to be prioritized for the older kids. So I’m looking to help them any way I can.”

Goin’s quarter century of coaching experience is centered around golf and basketball. But his involvement in recreational sports gave him the chance to coach a different sport — soccer. He coaches soccer during the fall and basketball during the winter.

This winter, Goin has nine teams on his schedule — four fifth and sixth grade teams, three fourth grade teams and two travel teams.

Goin got into coaching and teaching nearly 30 years ago at Elgin High School in Eastern Oregon, then spent time in Portland and Salem before deciding to return home.

“My wife and I, when we got together and had kids, came up to Astoria to housesit for her cousin, who happened to be the best player on my dad’s state championship team,” he said. “She really liked the atmosphere and the weather as a runner and for me it was a chance to come home where I grew up.”

Through his many years coaching at bigger schools, Goin observed that being in Astoria allows young people the opportunity to play different sports instead of focusing on one.

“My past schools had over 2,000 students, so kids often weren’t given the choice. It was either basketball or baseball, not both,” he said. “In Astoria, it’s a midsized town and since my kids like baseball, golf, basketball, they have the chance to play different sports. I just think having the chance to try different sports is valuable for kids.”

As someone who grew up with coaching in his blood from his father, Goin said being able to give back to the community that raised him and seeing the smile on kids’ faces when they succeed is a feeling that never gets old. His father, Mike Goin, is in the Astoria High School Hall of Fame as a basketball player and coach. He coached the 1998 Fishermen to a 3A state title.

“One thing I noticed was my young kids in soccer this year really struggled to start the year. We lost some tournament games really badly in August,” Goin said. “By the end of the year, they were super competitive and winning games. Seeing that growth and the kids’ excitement is really beneficial for me to see.”

Like every parent, Goin wants to be there for his children as they grow up. Sports is often a way for fathers to bond with their sons.

“We go fishing in the summer a lot,” he said. “I like to play golf with them when I can, as well. But the most important thing is the car ride conversations. When I was coaching (high school), I would usually miss them on the bus rides back and not see them on a regular basis, so having those conversations is important.”