Nominated 2018. A 1970 graduate of Berlin High School, Gene Trochinski went on to a 40-year career as teacher, coach and administrator, 36 of them in Orange County, Florida. During his tenure at Dr. Phillips High School he built an athletic program that earned 86 conference titles, 96 district, 22 regional, 10 state and four national championships. He was twice named the Civitan (FL) Wrestling Coach of the Year and was inducted into both the Dr. Phillips High School Athletic Hall of Fame and DPHS Theater Hall of Fame. He taught for 15 years and served in administration positions the next 25 years.
Gene was twice selected as Administrator of the Year in a district with over 200,000 students. DPHS was also selected, during his tenure, as having the top athletic program in the State of Florida. As principal of a high profile school, he was able to travel to numerous states and countries with his school’s Center for International Studies Magnet Program and the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Programs. Additionally, he had the privilege of training with the Marines at Parris Island and meeting presidents from other countries. A new administration building at DPHS, the Gene Trochinski Building, was named in his honor.
He is testimony to the fact that anyone from a small town can go on to excel in more than one educational area. While at Berlin High School he was a four-time varsity wrestling letterman and captained the team his senior year. During his senior year he won the Reedsburg Tournament, Little 10 and Regional titles, advancing to the WIAA State Tournament. He also participated in wrestling at UW-Oshkosh and in 2018 was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from UW-Oshkosh. He received his Bachelor of Science from UW-O in 1974 and attained his Master’s degree at the University of Central Florida in 1978 and his Educational Leadership degree from the same university in 1990.
Since his retirement, he and his wife, Mary Jo, a teacher for 36 years, have been volunteering at a local elementary school, teaching students to read. Both of their children also became teachers. Gene also mentors new middle and high school principals in Orange County Florida.
Two of his favorite sayings are: “Face it. Nobody owes you a living.”
“What you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime is directly related to what you do or fail to do.”