Los Gatos Teacher Scott Downs Retires

Los Gatos attorney John Shepardson took time Monday evening during the public speaking portion of the Council meeting to recognize retiring Los Gatos High School teacher and coach Scott Downs.

He praised Downs for helping the town, which he said was not a "wrestling" community to become one of the best in the Central Coast Section in the sport.

"He not only won, but he won with class," Shepardson said. "The wrestlers ... were intimidated ... but he taught them a different way."

The teams, under Down's coaching, had some of the best academic performances in the CCS, he added.

Although the coach wasn't in attendance Monday evening, Shephardson explained he wanted to express his appreciation to Downs, who first came to the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District in 1976.

According to his bio on the LGHS' website, Downs was hired to teach drawing and painting at Saratoga High School. He worked there until 1979.

During those years he also served as a football, wrestling, and baseball coach, club advisor, class advisor and yearbook advisor. As a junior member of the staff he was laid off due to post-Prop 13 budget cuts, the bio said.

Following work in the business world as a sales manager and teaching in a private school, Scott rejoined the district in 1985 at Los Gatos High School, the bio continued.

He created and implemented a four-year art curriculum and served with distinction as department chairperson, head coach varsity wrestling, and head coach frosh/soph football, the bio stated.

"The accomplishments of Scott's art students his athletes and athletic teams attest to his commitment to education and his exceptional talent as a teacher, mentor, manager and leader," the bio noted.

Downs took over the assistant principal in charge of buildings and grounds, athletics and activities in 2005 at LGHS.