JAMES DANIELSON
PHS CLASS OF 1981
James graduated in 1981 and was a 3-sport star in football, soccer, and track.
In Football, James was a 3-year varsity starter. He was Piedmont’s first soccer style kicker, kicking a 40-yard field goal in a game against Albany. He led the team in interceptions his junior and senior years, while having one game with 4 interceptions his junior year.
In Soccer, James was a 3-year varsity starter. After his MVP junior year, James led the Piedmont team to its first North Coast Section Championship appearance, while earning Piedmont's first North Coast Section Individual Player honor in 1981. James received the Coaches Award his senior year. His PHS soccer coach, Don O’Connell has stated James would have very easily been a 4-year varsity member in soccer if PHS had a team his freshman year.
James was a 4-year varsity member in track. He was a 3-time Optimo winner during those 4 years. He broke the school record for the Triple Jump his senior year.
James was distinguished as team captain and a 1st Team All-League recipient in each sport his junior and senior years. He received 10 total varsity letters at Piedmont High. James was distinguished as Athlete of the Year for the PHS graduating class of 1981, He went on to play soccer at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelors of Art Degree in Social Science.
