During Bill’s 30 plus year teaching and coaching career at Ventura High School, he has been the head boys’ and girls’ cross-country and has assisted in track and field with both boys’ and girls’ distance runners.
During his tenure as the head cross-country coach, Tokar’s teams excelled both in competition and in the classroom. As the head cross-country coach, his teams captured a total of 15 Channel League titles, including five boys’ varsity titles and 10 girls’ varsity titles. In addition, his teams captured two CIF SS Academic team awards, proving quality athletics and academics work hand in hand.
Over the course of his head coaching career, the Cougars qualified for CIF SS crosscountry finals 15 times and for the California State Cross-Country championships 10 times. From 2002 to 2005, the Tokar coached girls had an incredible run. They captured four Channel League titles and were the top team at CIF SS twice. The 2004 team was one for the ages, as they destroyed the then team time record for the famed Mt. Sac crosscountry course.
At the state meet, they did even better. In 2002, the Cougars earned their first ever state plaque in cross-country, finishing second in Division II. In 2003, the girls captured Ventura High School’s first ever California State Championship, winning the Division I crown. In 2004, the girls had a magical season, winning the CIF SS title and once again capturing the Division I title, scoring a mere 46 points. After the state meet, that team was ranked #2 in the nation. The next year, the Cougars continued their incredible four year run at Woodward Park. After not being ranked most of the season, the 2005 version ended up third in the state of California, a scant one point out of second and a mere 12 points behind the champions.
As an assistant track and field distance coach, Coach Tokar has coached numerous CIF SS individual champions, a California State champion and has helped the Cougars capture two CIF SS track and field titles.
But Coach Tokar’s legacy goes far beyond accomplishments on the field. He has been heavily involved with coaching education throughout the state through the LA84 Coaching Education programs in both cross-country and track and field. He has been honored by the Arcadia Invitational for his contributions to coaching education. He has also inspired several of his former athletes to coach athletes at Ventura High School. Tyree Cruz, Preston Biller and Josh Spiker have all coached at Ventura High School, and Coach Tokar has helped assist his former athletes. Coach Tokar continues to help mentor coaches throughout the county, section and state and steps in to help assist his former students when asked.
Bill Tokar lives in Ventura with his wife Cindy who is a leader for disabled youth sports in Ventura County. His daughter, Holly won the CIF SS pole vault title while competing for Ventura High School and went on to vault for the University of California, Davis, where she was a Big West Champion and earned all-conference honors for the Aggies.