POST FALLS - In two seasons as the Prairie American Legion baseball coach, Dustin Frank led the Cardinals to a state tournament in his second year.

Now, he'll attempt to lead Post Falls High back to state for the first time since 2006.

Frank was named Post Falls coach pending school board approval, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday.

"I feel so very blessed," said Frank, 27. "I'm very excited for the chance and feel lucky to have been given the opportunity."

Frank has coached the junior team at Post Falls the past four seasons.

"We've got a pretty good program in place," said Frank, who graduated from Lakeland High in 2002, and played at Whitworth from 2002-06. "Coach (Mick) Zeller taught me a lot and left a good foundation of guys to work with."

Zeller resigned in July after 11 years as coach.

Post Falls went 7-12 last season and finished fourth in the 5A Inland Empire League, but returns 11 players from that squad.

“We’ve got a good chunk back,” Frank said. “I’m excited and feel prepared to do it.”

The Prairie Cardinal “AA” American Legion baseball team is based in Post Falls and has players from Post Falls, Timberlake and Lakeland high schools.

“Coaching legion has helped me grow as an individual and as a coach,” Frank said. “Coach Zeller prepared me to be successful. If the kids are willing to buy in, we could be successful in the coming years.”

“I think that really helped him to learn in an administrative role,” Post Falls athletic director Craig Christensen said. “With all the responsibilities, fundraising, travel and other organizational duties — he did a pretty good job with that and they had a good season.”

Christensen added that the school had seven applicants for the position.

Frank is a math teacher at Post Falls High. He said he plans to continue coaching the Legion team.

“From our point of view, he’s in our school,” Christensen said. “I think he’ll do a fine job. Having him coach both (high school and Legion) is a good combination. Some kids, he’ll be able to work with for six months. It’s a good opportunity to carry over to the Legion season.”

Prairie tied for fifth at the state AA tournament in Twin Falls in July, the team’s first trip to state since 2003.

“Dustin is a good young coach,” Christensen said. “And we’re happy to have someone of his caliber. He’s been dedicated to baseball and done his time with the JV program. He’s done a good job with the Legion program and it’s time for him to move up and have a successful program at the high school level.”

“I like coaching baseball,” Frank said. “The more time I can spend doing it, the better.”