Khun Thawit Piakpia joined ISB in 2013, dedicating nine years to fostering education at the elementary level. Currently in his third year specializing in IT, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role in the ISB Athletics Department. At 41 years old, Khun Thawit is passionate about integrating technology into learning, enhancing the educational experience for both students and staff. 

He is strongly supported by his wife, Mrs.Orraphan (Mui) Piakpia, who works as an instructional assistant at ISB and has been supporting first graders for three years. Together, they share a commitment to fostering young minds and improving educational outcomes.

Khun Thawit combines an outstanding background in sports with a strong interest in technology in the athletics office. He says he moved into sports administration to make life fun for both athletes and coaches. As the head coach of the Varsity Boys’ Volleyball Team, he melds his IT expertise with his passion for the game, believing that technology can significantly enhance the performance and engagement of athletes. In his role, he oversees athlete registration, roster maintenance, the creation of promotional posters, and streaming services. This means that, day-to-day, he ensures coaches have the information they need, sets up screens for home games, and balances his coaching and IT responsibilities.

“I believe using technology to help coaches and athletes to have better experience and facilitate their roles,” he says.

Impact and Engagement

Khun Thawit’s work is evident on campus. By facilitating streaming services and providing access to game footage, he feels “part of the community.” Khun Thawit also generates excitement for tournaments and helps the athletes involved reflect on their performance. This enhances a sense of camaraderie, making all participants feel engaged and valued.

When asked how he prioritizes tasks when managing multiple athletic roles, he says, “I love that question.” He enjoys the diversity that comes with maintaining numerous athletic endeavors. He stresses that planning —on a week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year basis — is key to juggling coaching responsibilities with those of an IT professional to make sure neither job interferes with the other.

Khun Thawit not only engages our own community but also handles invitations to visiting schools. He arranges food vendors for various events and creates posters that showcase the athletes’ contributions, fostering a sense of community spirit.

Despite all the multitasking challenges and the way he copes with stress, Coach Thawit enjoys the view of athletes on and off the field. He says the most rewarding moments come when the athletes enjoy their competitions and achieve their goals with the resources and guidance provided.

Academic success is Coach Thawit’s priority, as he also encourages his student-athletes to seek help and advocate for themselves. He also insists on teaching life skills hand in hand with sports and places significant importance on mental health. He believes in being supportive as a coach and also as a role model. “I believe that, as a coach, you have to be that person first,” he says. “You cannot teach your athletes if you’re not there. Just teach the right thing and do the right thing. And it’s powerful when you as a coach can do that.”

Personal Insights

Khun Thawit has a difficult time thinking about what he does outside his work because “I don’t really have free time,” but when he is able to get away from campus he enjoys the beach. “I just like being there,” he says. “I love the beach because the ocean is the beauty of the earth. I feel free when I go to the ocean.”

He also enjoys family time, knowing that a strong family base offers balance. “Family is important,” he says. “I value my family, and family is the most important thing in my life,” he says. “So everyday I will spend some time with my family or make sure I have some talking time with them, sharing time, listening to them and that’s important to stay balanced.”

Ethan Tiffin, a varsity volleyball player at Taipei American School, describes Coach Thawit as “a really cool guy. The times that we’ve chatted, he’s really engaging, and he’s entertaining.” 

Brooks Luffman, an ISB varsity volleyball player, says he likes “the advice he gives me on the court and like the overall life advice. He really cares a lot about teaching us how to become better humans.”

Ikie Koolhiran, another ISB varsity volleyball player describes Coach Thawit as authentic. “He seems like a very real person,” Koolhiran says. “He says things that are real. He’s very straightforward. That’s what I like about him. I also think coach Thawit is very hardworking and we can see throughout the season that he puts his work first and especially values his position as head coach a lot. Even when he was sick, he sacrificed a lot for us and he would work through his sickness.”

ISB Athletic Director Chris Mott says Coach Thawit is the same in coaching as he is in the office: “super helpful, kind, polite, courteous, thoughtful, and hardworking.” He describes Coach Thawit as someone who “really wants to make sure that he gets things right and has learned over the last few years that the kids come first — making sure they get what they need. He prepares thoroughly and then executes his plans to ensure he achieves the best possible outcomes for himself and for the kids or anyone involved. He aims for high quality, which is great.”

When asked about his experience working with Khun Thawit, Mr. Mott says, “It’s great! I love him! I mean, we joke with him all the time. We treat him like a little brother, obviously, and the office in general, everyone gets along with everybody in here, which is the way it should be. He’s super easy to work with.”

Over the next few years, Coach Thawit hopes to see the Athletic Department expand its programs and become even more competitive across all our programs. With a community-based and growth-oriented mindset, he is excited about the future of athletics at ISB.