ONTARIO, Ore. — Priest River alumni Eric Holbrook announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he accepted a position as the new head men’s basketball coach at Treasure Valley Community College (NWAC).

“Excited for the next step!,” Holbrook said on Twitter. “Thank you Dawson [Community College] for the great memories.”

Holbrook expressed his thanks to everyone at Dawson CC (NJCAA), which is located in Glendive, Mont., for welcoming him with open arms and giving him the opportunity to impact students.

Holbrook is a 2011 graduate of Priest River Lamanna High where he was a star basketball and football player for the Spartans. He was a part of the 2009 basketball team that went 22-3 and won an Intermountain League title. That year, Holbrook averaged 15.5 points per game. Holbrook was also part of the 2010 squad that won the first 3A boys basketball state championship in PRLHS history with a 79-65 win over Salmon.

After high school, Holbrook played for Spokane Community College (NWAC). He was a two-year starter and helped the Sasquatch to an Eastern Region title during his time there. Holbrook then went on to play at Western Oregon University (NCAA Division II) located in Monmouth, Ore. He eventually earned his bachelor’s degree in both psychology and organizational sciences in 2017 from the University of Idaho and a master’s degree in athletic educational leadership in 2022 from Dickinson State located in Dickinson, N.D. 

After his career as a player, he was an assistant coach at Spokane CC, where he led the Sasquatch to 77 wins over his four-year tenure. He then went on to be the assistant coach at Dickinson State for two years before heading to Dawson CC in 2022. While an assistant coach at Dawson, Holbrook was also the director of housing, the sports information director and an adjunct faculty member.

“The reason I got into coaching was the impact coaches had on me through my life,” Holbrook said in a report by the Dawson CC sports information department. “If it wasn’t for sports, I really don’t know what I would have done with my life. I fell in love with the game of basketball as a player and I have now fallen in love with teaching the game of basketball. My goal as a coach is what I call the 'spider web effect.' Because my coach impacted my life and turned my life around, I want to be able to keep that going. If I can impact a student-athletes’ life, I hope that when they get the chance to help someone, they will do the same. This all creates a large web of good people helping others who need it.”

Holbrook will get a new opportunity to do that at Treasure Valley. The Chukars are coming off a historic season where they compiled a 23-7 record (13-1 in East Region) and were the Eastern Region regular season champions for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Treasure Valley CC athletics department reported that they will be returning numerous players as they continue to build the program under Holbrook. Former Treasure Valley CC head coach James Jensen, who was named the East Region Coach of the Year this past season, accepted a position to become the associate men’s head basketball coach at Fort Lewis College (NCAA Division II) located in Durango, Colo.