Thompson Falls High School has hired Brady Ovitt to be the new head coach for the Blue Hawk girls' basketball team.

Ovitt has confirmed that he has been offered and accepted the coaching job and that he has also been hired as a sixth grade math and science teacher into the Thompson Falls school system, after previously working at Hot Springs. He held a meeting with Falls players and parents last week after his hiring was announced.

Ovitt, who coached the Hot Springs girls’ basketball team last winter, also served as Hot Springs’ athletic director last school year.

Ovitt replaces Mike Tessier, who guided the Hawks to a third place finish in the Western B divisional tournament in his final season as head coach last winter. Sandra Kazmeirczak will remain in place as junior varsity coach.

The Hot Springs school board recently voted to enter into a cooperative agreement with Plains for high school basketball, including both the boys’ and girls’ programs this year. Due to low numbers, the Hot Springs boys cooperated with Plains last year while the Hot Springs girls remained as a separate entity for the 2025-2026 season.

The Plains school board has not met yet to consider or vote on the proposal officially, it was reported.

In other local coaching news, all other fall and winter sports coaches from last season were reportedly rehired in Plains and Thompson Falls, excepting for the Plains girls’ basketball head coach position, which remains open.

Brooks Sanford stepped down as the Trotter head coach following the season last winter.

Superior is advertising for a junior varsity boys’ basketball coach, but no other local coaching changes have been reported.