From the beginning of the interview process, Zach Clanton told the Coeur d'Alene American Legion board members, that given the opportunity, he's going to go for it if named coach of the class AA Lumbermen program.

Starting in May, he'll get a chance to do that.

Clanton, 23, was hired as Lumbermen coach on Tuesday, replacing Lloyd Duman, who had been with the program since 1993, and been the Lums' head coach for the past eight seasons, resigning following the season with a 276-160 career record.

"I told them during the interview I was ready for the job," said Clanton, a former Coeur d'Alene Legion player and assistant coach. "I'm psyched for it. I wasn't going to settle for anything less. I work with both (Coeur d'Alene Legion president) Monte Larsen and (board member) Rick Sparks and they told me I'm the new face of Coeur d'Alene Legion and I was smiling ear to ear. They said they're behind me all the way."

"It's definitely for his age and experience," Larsen said. "He's already coached in the program for three years and knows what it takes to get to the next level and how to get the team to the next level. He's got a good temperament for it. Some are able to coach, others able to play, and he does both really well."

Clanton, a Lums assistant, filled in as head coach of the team at the state tournament in August. It was then that Clanton knew he was ready for the challenge of being the head coach.

"It really helped a lot," Clanton said. "It really opened my eyes and when I had control of what was going on, it showed that I was ready for the next step. Seeing how the kids reacted to me showed that I was ready to take the next step. I was worried that it wasn't going to be a business trip, but the kids took it the right way. It really was a state tournament environment."

Clanton, who graduated from Lake City High in 2008, last played for the Lums in '08 and was the pitching coach the past two seasons. He pitched four seasons at Lewis-Clark State, going 4-0 with two saves in 19 appearances as a senior in 2012.

"More than anything, I got to play college baseball at a high level," Clanton said. "Playing for coach (Ed) Cheff, his coaching way might be a little unorthodox, but I wouldn't say I was questioning everything."

Clanton also coached first base for the Lums.

"I've played under a lot of different coaches," Clanton said. "But to kind of see everything from their perspective, I feel like I've been under the right people."

"I can see him developing as a coach and doing well in the program, compete, and beat some of these higher level travel teams," Larsen said. "With only having a few AA teams in the area, we'll have a lot more travel baseball opportunities now, so we'll be competing at the next level, and Zach's the guy that can take us there."