Coaching comings, goings among area prep programs
MARK NELKE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 6 months AGO
Mark Nelke covers high school and North Idaho College sports, University of Idaho football and other local/regional sports as a writer, photographer, paginator and editor at the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has been at The Press since 1998 and sports editor since 2002. Before that, Mark was the one-man sports staff for 16 years at the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint. Earlier, he was sports editor for student newspapers at Spokane Falls Community College and Eastern Washington University. Mark enjoys the NCAA men's basketball tournament and wiener dogs — and not necessarily in that order. | June 11, 2016 9:00 PM
Willow Hanna, who guided the Post Falls High volleyball team to state four times in her nine seasons as coach, including a runner-up finish at the 2011 state 5A tournament, has resigned.
Hanna, who compiled an overall record of 159-151, said it was an “incredibly difficult decision” to step down, but did it for family reasons. She and husband Tony, the Timberlake High boys basketball coach, have two children, ages 9 and 11.
“They are old enough now that they have their own sports and interests,” Willow Hanna said. “Based on my summer and fall schedule (coaching volleyball), I would not have been able to take them to their activities. It is for my children that I have decided to step down.”
“As I reflect on my time at PFHS, I am so incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to coach and work with such amazing young women and their families,” she added. “Each of them have gained a permanent place in my heart.”
Post Falls baseball coach Dustin Frank and Trojan girls soccer coach Sarah Stevens have also resigned. Frank coached the Trojans for five seasons, Stevens for two.
“Dustin just had another child and that had a factor on his resignation,” Post Falls High athletic director Craig Christensen said.
Christensen said he hopes to fill the volleyball and girls soccer positions soon. He said Hanna is helping with the volleyball team in the transition, and Steve Mills is helping with the girls soccer team in the transition.
• At Lakeland, volleyball coach Kylee Garitone resigned after five seasons to take a teaching position in another district, athletic director Trent Derrick said. She has been replaced by Adriano de Sousa, a Brazilian who played beach volleyball professionally, and also played briefly in college.
Andrew Craig, who coached the Lakeland High boys soccer team team, stepped down to pursue administration openings. He was replaced by Dylan Stiegemeier, a former Lakeland High player.
Craig went 36-31-6 as Hawks coach and took the team to state twice, including a runner-up finish in 4A last year. It was only Lakeland’s third trip to state in school history, and first trip to the state title game.
• At St. Maries, Amy Scheer resigned after two seasons as volleyball coach. She has been replaced by Rachelle Asbury. Under Scheer, the Lumberjacks placed fourth at state in 2A last fall.
• At Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, Steven Zamora takes over as boys basketball coach, replacing Jarrod Womack, who guided the Panthers the past two seasons.
Stacy Smith is the new girls soccer coach, replacing David Baxter, who stepped down after four seasons. Baxter, who started the program in 2012, compiled a record of 54-21-6 and coached the Panthers to a state title in 2014, a runner-up finish in 2015 and the consolation title in 2013.
• At Lakeside, Brad Veile is returning for his second stint as the Knights’ volleyball coach. He previously coached Lakeside for 15 seasons (1991-2005).
Karyn Stockdale and Kellee Johnson were co-coaches the past three seasons.
ARTICLES BY MARK NELKE
BIG SKY FOOTBALL KICKOFF: Vandals expect big things from Priest River's McLain
BIG SKY FOOTBALL KICKOFF: Vandals expect big things from Priest River's McLain
Former Clark Fork High star athlete undergoes successful heart transplant surgery
The former Windy Eagle, a star athlete at Clark Fork High, had been awaiting a new heart since 2022, when she was diagnosed with cardiac sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease which attacks the electrical system of her heart.
PREP FOOTBALL: Post Falls runs past Sandpoint
Sandpoint (2-1) hosts Davis High of Yakima on Friday.