Doris Kagley: OCC coach ‘was happy till the end’

When Sue Brown thinks back on her friend of more than four decades, Doris, she’ll always think of her smile.

“That was her thing. She had a wonderful smile and was always happy. She was happy till the end,” Brown said.

Doris Kagley, who was a counselor and athletic coach at Orange Coast College and Golden West College for 32 years, died Saturday. She was 79.

Kagley began her career with OCC in the 1960s as a teacher, coach and counselor.

She was a psychology professor and counselor and was tapped to help create a women’s track team. Along with that, she also coached women’s softball and badminton.

While helping lead the athletic programs, she hired Brown in 1964. The two have been friends ever since.

“In those days, we all coached everything,” Brown said. “She really loved athletes and the college environment. She was very giving, helpful.”

In 1966, Kagley moved to coaching at Golden West College, where she was the assistant division chairwoman for physical education, a division counselor and the women’s swimming and tennis team coach.

She came back to OCC in 1974 as a counseling liaison for the athletics department.

“In the years that we worked together, the faculty and administrators were kind of a team and trying to make the college better,” Brown said. “She loved people. She loved to be involved, to help others. I think she always loved the counseling most.”

Kagley was also an avid golfer, sailor and skier. She died in her Laguna Niguel home, and her ashes will be spread in the mountains and at sea.