Both Marcell Colbert and Cal DeHaas have climbed to the top of the mountain in the boys and girls basketball ranks as assistant coaches in the last five years.

Now taking over the reigns at Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls this year, they hope to begin that climb again soon.

For DeHaas, who graduated from Prairie High in Cottonwood, it is a return to something he loves.

"I've always dreamed of heading up a small school program," said DeHaas, who will be the Jaguars' girls coach. "I just love that environment and that it gives kids a chance to have a playing career."

Colbert was offered the boys job last year, but was unable to accept.

"Honestly, I was done coaching," said Colbert, who coached at North Idaho College and Post Falls High. "I'd taken two years off when my son (Marcus, now a junior at Montana State) had graduated and started my own skill development thing, so I was leaning toward doing that and that only. I wanted to work with any kid that I wanted to work with instead of just a select few. When you coach basketball at the high school level, you coach that, period. And you can only work with a select group of kids. I wanted to help build this area up basketball wise."

That was, until Genesis Prep athletic director Shella Brearley texted Colbert, whom she had known for years.

"Shella text me, and I was surprised to see it was her," Colbert said. "She asked me if I was interested in coaching and if I would be able last year, so I asked if I could have a couple of days to think about it. I knew I couldn't do it then, because it wouldn't be fair to me, her, the school, and the kids because I wouldn't be able to dedicate my time to coach and build a program. Then she asked if I'd be interested in meeting with her, the principal and one of the school board members and we had a discussion."

From there, the rest is history.

"Before that process started, it had me thinking and got my wheels turning," Colbert said. "My first head coaching position was a school about this size (Post Falls Christian), and so I started thinking and started thinking, that wouldn't be a bad idea. So we had the meeting and after that, the ball really got rolling. I started coaching the middle school team last year, just to get to know the kids and get to see what we've got coming up and had a great time with those guys. And now, I'm here."

Colbert also accepted a teaching position this year at Genesis Prep, where he teaches history and physical education.

"Everything happens in its own space and time," Colbert said. "It wasn't in the cards last year, and I guess God didn't want it to happen right then and there. God's timing is always the best. Now, I get to hang out with kids all day. It's an adventure for me."

DeHaas, most recently an assistant coach for the North Idaho College women's basketball team, was meeting with Brearley and Genesis Prep principal Chris Finch in September when his offer came. Brearley knew DeHaas because he attends Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, where Genesis Prep rents space for its school. The gymnasium is the Jaguars' home gym.

"It kind of came out of nowhere," DeHaas said. "I was in a meeting with Shella and the principal and they asked if I had any interest in taking over the program, so I jumped on it. We were just talking about the facilities, because Genesis Prep hopes to grow someday, and were just in a conversation about that."

DeHaas also was a varsity assistant and freshman girls basketball coach at Coeur d'Alene High.

"I'd started with a group in AAU that had my daughter Kelsi (DeHaas), Katie Baker, Jordan Schoening, Amy Warbrick and had a great experience with that team," DeHaas said. "That led to Coeur d'Alene High and to NIC on three different occasions. That really helps me get going."

DeHaas also runs basketball camps, as well as organizes the annual Special Needs basketball game in Coeur d'Alene.

"We weren't even talking about coaching at all, and asked how we could partner together to see how we could use this facility," DeHaas said. "I've always had a passion for coaching girls basketball. As far as the players go, it's a good fit. Coming from that small school background, it was a help. I've got an understanding where they're coming from, and being there myself, I think it's a good fit."

In boys basketball, Genesis Prep will play as an associate member of the Idaho High School Activities Association this season. They will still be a member of the Mountain Christian League, but will also face some teams from the North Star League. Genesis Prep is also an associate member in boys golf. The girls basketball team will continue to play a full Mountain Christian League schedule this season.

Genesis Prep will find out at January's IHSAA board meeting if the school has been accepted as a full member in all sports. The Jaguars also offer volleyball.

"We wanted to compete with the public schools in the area," Brearley said. "I had a vision to take sports and do life lessons with these athletes and help them see why sports are important, but also what life skills they're going to get out of that."

"We're taking the proper steps," Colbert said. "We're NCAA-qualified (academically), so that's the first step. The second is going through the state side. Kids want to play for an opportunity to play at a district tournament and at the state level. That's the one thing every high school athlete wants."

The Post Falls boys qualified for state six times while Colbert was part of the coaching staff, winning a state 5A title in 2010.

"That was one carrot I dangled in front of my sons," Colbert said. "Two of my three years (in high school), we made it to the Final Four at Cole Field House in College Park, Md., for the state tournament. Malcolm was able to go down (to the Idaho state tournament) twice and Marcus all four years. That's an experience that I'd love for these kids to have."

Both Colbert and DeHaas also oversee the junior high basketball programs at Genesis Prep. In the Mountain Christian League, eighth graders can play up with the varsity programs. If the school becomes a full IHSAA member, the athletes won't be able to play until their freshman year of high school.

Caleb Symons, who was cut from a summer junior varsity team, has found a second chance at Genesis Prep.

"It's a great blessing to get another chance to play somewhere where I'm welcome," Symons said. "I wasn't able to make the JV team, so I made the decision that I was going to go somewhere that I could play. Then coach Marcell, who's been like a mentor to me, asked if I wanted to play summer league here. God gave me another chance to go play somewhere else, and at a Christian school, which was even better. It was a great blessing that I could go where I was really welcome."

Symons is the nephew of NIC men's basketball coach Corey Symons.

"He told me when he played in high school, he got cut and then went to a school where he could play more and got to play college ball," Caleb said. "And to this day, I look up to him as a player and coach. God blessed me with his story and this school."

At Genesis Prep, students can live anywhere and attend school and play sports there. But if Genesis Prep becomes a full IHSAA member, only students that live within school boundaries can play there.

"Our area is mostly 5A schools," DeHaas said. "There's more kids getting cut, or just not trying out for high school teams. Genesis gives those kids an opportunity for those kids to come to Genesis, and be part of the program. If they value a Christian education, and value their playing career, then it's giving those kids an opportunity to continue on, that's what excites me."

And it excites Brearley also.

"These guys (Colbert and DeHaas), this is where they were supposed to go," Brearley said. "They're good coaches, not just with their skills, but the way they relate to these kids and they walk in life with them. Each of them will tell them we're a family, not just a team, or school, or family."