Making a move from the L.B.C., EC hired a new A.D.

Randy Totorp was hired in May 2014 as the new director of athletics and kinesiology. Tortorp was previously at Long Beach City College as an interim athletic director and spent approximately eight seasons as the men’s volleyball coach.

“EC has a fantastic history,” Totorp said. “There’s a lot of changes happening across the state, so being a part of that and helping EC advance in the future is what I’m looking forward to.”

Totorp was born in Hawthorne but grew up in the Long Beach area and graduated from Lakewood High School.

“I was a student athlete at Long Beach City College and San Diego State University,” Totorp said. “Immediately following graduation, I got into education, teaching, coaching, and worked my way through the community college system as an assistant coach, head coach, and then athletic director.”

Totorp has a long connection with the South Bay since his parents grew up in Redondo Beach.

“Being a men’s volleyball athlete, the South Bay is predominately a hot spot for sports,” Totorp said. “I spent a lot of time playing in beach volleyball tournaments.”

Furthermore, Totorp is moved by what the future holds at EC.

“I’m excited right now that the college has committed such a fantastic vision for the athletic department. We have some amazing construction projects going on that are going to propel EC in the future,” Totorp said. “Their planning and the vision of where athletics is going and the commitment to the student athletes is fantastic.”

Dean of Athletics and Health Sciences, Rory Natividad, doesn’t put too much pressure on Totorp as far as his expectations.

“I want him to build relationships and be an active listener,” Natividad said. “I think that is one of the most important parts of being a future leader and then when you make an assessment, then you bring those things to the table.”

Totorp’s favorite part about the job didn’t really change for him between the transition coming from LBCC.

“It’s always the student athletes,” Totorp said. “Seeing their success and helping them walk through their educational journey in the moment and celebrating the highlights of when they transfer or when they have success in a class or success in their sport of choice.”

Sophomore running back Deon Williams admires Totorp’s educational drive and his volleyball championship ring.

“I think he’s a pretty good guy and he really pushes to go to school and getting our classes and our grades right,” Williams said. “And he’s also about winning championships.”

Totorp is a big advocate on academics for the student athletes.

“Academically, there’s a great amount of support with the amount of counselors and their ability to really work with our student athletes, and commit to helping them with their education and planning and transfer success along the lines with tutoring, and everything we do to support our student athletes,” Totorp said.

Totorp said he has EC’s 100 percent support.

“My administrative colleagues that I’ve met have just been extremely supportive and, again, just top to bottom with planning,” Totorp said. “The vision for the college has been really amazing.”