 After returning to Oregon from South America, Birkey became limited as a player due to several knee surgeries and focused on his coaching career leading Columbia High School in Troutdale, OR.Having played under Clive Charles, he was invited to coach with him at the club level and worked numerous years as a staff coach at the Portland Timbers youth camps along with Timbers players from the late 1970s and early 1980s.It was Birkey's professional relationship with Charles that set the model for much of his coaching philosophy.