In 2012, Arlington High school named Joe Marsh the girls basketball head coach. From that point on, dominance had begun. With a 238-76 overall record, eight WESCO league titles, including five undefeated regular seasons.
“He was really someone who pushed me to get better,” said Savannah Thomas (‘26) a varsity girls basketball player, “He was always filled with so much wisdom and advice. He always wanted the best for us” Thomas said.
As well as three district championships, nine trips to the Tacoma Dome for the State tournament, and five time Wesco Coach of the Year. Sadly, in 2021 he was diagnosed with cancer, then after a long hard fought battle, in 2025 he passed away.
“I really loved having him as a coach,” said Kailee Anderson (‘27) another varsity girls basketball player, “He really got to know the players individually and focused on having meetings with each player and finding out what they wanted and how he could reach that goal” Anderson said.
He left a great legacy here at Arlington for the girls basketball team, having the highest winning percentage of any coach with 78%. The grievance will never stop for our late great Coach Marsh, but there was still an unanswered question. Who steps up as new head coach? Lauryn Perrigo, an art teacher and assistant coach to Marsh was named.
“She’s definitely made changes. She’s talked about things that she wants to do differently,” said Thomas, “…but she really just wants to get back to the basics and how Arlington girls basketball used to be” Thomas said.
Perrigo has been coaching with Marsh for a while, and has seen all the success. But what had she done that made her Marsh’s first choice as head coach?
Perrigo played girls basketball for four years at Arlington High school, as well as playing at Highline Community College for two years and Pacific University for another two.
Her coaching experience began at Roseburg High school in Southern Oregon for around eight years, earning a second place spot in the 6A division during her last year as a coach there. Then she headed back to her old stomping grounds, here at Arlington, where she has been assistant coach for 10 years, now in her 11th as head coach.
“The program has been well for so long, so there’s a lot of stuff that is going to be the same,” Perrigo said.
She had a conversation with Coach Marsh before he passed, as he told her that she is her own person, and for her to make her own program, which is exactly what she is going to do.
“We’re really kind of getting back to our roots and having a really big focus on defense and transition offense. I just want a lot of heart and hustle this year” Perrigo said.
Working with one of the great minds of basketball, as well as having coaching experience. It’s hard to say if anything will be too much different on gamedays and in front of the eyes of the basketball fans. What really sparks interest is the behind the scenes, during practices, and off the court.
“At the end of my Junior year, we kind of struggled because of that,” said Addi Green (‘26), speaking on what it was like having that transition last year from Marsh to Perrigo, towards the end of the season. “So, I think it definitely is going to be different and we’re gonna be pushed more than Marsh pushed us,” Green said.
In the end, it’ll all come down to the team’s atmosphere. Can they stick to their morales and be that fantastic program that Marsh and Perrigo helped build up to this point, and push aside the fact that they are missing a key part of the team. Can they push past, but never forget the loss of our great coach, and play for Perrigo and her system she will put in.
“…Perrigo is kind of picking up the slack this year and kind of making us more well oiled,” Anderson said.
