Remembering Coach Don Ziegler

[bjl333]

It is with a heavy heart I have to tell everyone our skeet clinic coach Don Ziegler passed away this morning!
Details are not available at this time!

I first met Don around 2002ish. I was out shooting skeet and I ran into a buddy taking lessons from him. I resisted taking lessons from him in the beginning but it was very obvious I needed help! Fast forward a few years, I was heavily involve into skeet competition. I achieved much success because of Don! I owe him my skeet career!

I would love for all of our clinic students to post their memories of Don in a little Calguns memorial for him!

RIP Don! You'll be sorely missed by many ...

[fecalguns]

When I first started shooting two years ago, I was referred to Don and his clinics. The first time I met him I thought is was important to let him know that I wear a prosthetic leg. He responded with: "Okay then I won't smack you in the shin or the back of your knee if you don't bend it then..."

Loved him since!!!!!!!!

[fecalguns]

Oh!!!! And the statement all of us will never forget: "Keep your damn finger on the trigger!!!!!"

[geedavell]

The first time i took his class was with my son in law. My daughter came alone just to take some pictures.
When Don ask my daughter what she was doing there, she reply that she was just there to watch.
With a loud voice, he responded "Oh no your not. If you are going be here, you're gonna shoot!"
He went and got an extra shotgun form the trunk and we had a blast.

RIP Don

[Gauss]

Rest In Peace, Don.

[Bakerloo]

RIP. I wanted to take a class with him but never had a chance. RIP

[hamajun]

Those who knew me through Don's clinics, I moved to Houston area late February. I have not been at a skeet range for a while, but I talked to Don last month to tell him I moved to Texas. He told me his health was declining but his voice sounded strong. When trapperjohn texted me about his condition, I was shocked.

His birthday was yesterday April 27th, and he made it to his 87th birthday. We had his birthday celebration right after the clinic 2 years ago. You can see the photos and the videos at my recap. Don was fired up the day.

He coached many students. He was very passionate about his students becoming good shooters, maybe too passionate, and he sometime yelled at them. Some did not return to the clinic because of it, but some did. Some of them became really good shooter and eventually compete at national or state level.

I started recording the clinics in 2019 for my recap posts. I still keep them in my Google Photo so that you can watch Don yelling at his students.

11/10/19 Recap Video
9/22/19 Recap Video
7/27/19 Recap Video
6/29/19 Recap Video
5/25/19 Recap Video
5/4/19 Recap Video
4/27/19 Recap Video
2/16/19 Recap Video
1/27/19 Recap Video


I compiled the recaps at FYI - SoCal Shotgun/Skeet Clinics debrief archives (2013 - 2019) for his students remembering him.

Thanks Don for coaching many of us. You will definitely be missed by many. R.I.P.

[chuck1056]

Rest in peace Don.

[xMAC1x]

I took a few lessons from Don, he must of loved what he was doing because he would stay out all day.

RIP Don

[littlewing6283]

Very sad news. RIP Don

I’ll keep my finger on the damn trigger

[ceh383]

I have been through about 20 of Don's clinics, learned something new at every one of them.
I remember one of the first ones I attended, I was not doing very well at all. Near the end of the day he was frustrated with me, he grabbed my gun and put it in the rack and walked away saying "I'll be right back" he seemed pretty pissed. He came back and handed me his competition gun, the one he won the 28ga world senior championship with. He said "try this one and don't beat it into walls, it cost me 15 thousand dollars.
I shot that gun the rest of the day, didn't miss a target...I was hooked.

RIP Don, I for one, will miss you!

[Giselle]

I started shooting at Coach's clinic 10 years ago with my dad. Coach was so patient with me and taught me so much. I'll miss his stories, the twinkle in his eye, the fritos in his chili, but most of all I'll miss his kindness.

Coach was also a matchmaker of sorts as I met my future husband at one of his clinics. We would be at a clinic and Coach would give us advice and be quick to point out to others " They met at one of my clinics."

Almost two years after my Dad and I started shooting, my dad lost his leg to cancer. While still in recovery Coach was the first one he called telling him that he, Coach, had his work cut out for him. Coach, my now husband, and the fellow shooters at the Thursday clinics helped my dad learn to shoot from a wheelchair. It made my dad feel whole and like his old self.

I'll always be grateful for the impact Coach has had in my life.

He was a good man.

[Ora Serrata]

I am very sad to hear about his passing. My son and I took one of his clinics about 5 years ago. My son was 12 and Don really made an effort to pay special attention to him because he really loved to help young shooters. My son was hitting doubles by the end. We always meant to make it back but schedules got in the way. That day will always be very special to us.

RIP

[Toomer]

RIP, Coach Z.

Great ambassador of the sport.

FINGER ON THE TRIGGER

***Z Technique***

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[hamajun]

CSSA posted Don's passing. http://www.calskeet.com/don-ziegler-passes/