MØDE Prep coach Adams steps down

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

Jon Adams said he enjoyed the process of putting together a prep school basketball program, and guiding it through its first season. 

But life happens sometimes.  

Adams, head coach at MØDE Prep in Liberty Lake, has resigned after one season. 

“My attention is just getting pulled elsewhere now,” said Adams, a 1991 Coeur d’Alene High grad who coached his alma mater for five seasons before taking over at MODE Prep. "I need to take a hiatus to focus on some personal and family obligations that are demanding my time right now.”

Under Adams, 53, MØDE Prep posted a 16-17 record last season, playing mostly in Grind Session tournaments sponsored by adidas, playing in the second division nationally. 

Other than one game last November at North Idaho College, all of MØDE Prep’s games were away from the area. 

Most prep programs are in the eastern part of the country. The closest ones to this area are in Utah and Seattle. 

"I love building things, taking things from concept to creation,” Adams said. “I've truly enjoyed helping put the foundational pieces in place for the area's first national prep basketball program. So fun learning how to promote the program, recruit players, and learn the academic model, housing needs, and budgetary requirements. What a privilege it's been to help bring some of the nation's top high school talent to our area." 

Adams said he will play a role in the hiring of the new coaching staff, as well as helping the five returning players from his team last year in the recruiting process, a group with includes highly touted center Alassane Doucoure. 

“Bring some other guys in, let them run with this, see if they can take it to the next level,” Adams said.  

As for a possible return to MØDE Prep someday, Adams said, “I don’t know what the future holds, but anything’s possible. I love coaching; I’ve got the bug. I’ll be coaching somewhere.” 

Adams said he and Arnold Brown, his assistant at Coeur d’Alene High and now head coach of the Vikings, will remain active in running the CDA Summer Shootout, an AAU tournament for high school teams which had its sixth edition earlier this month. 

MØDE Prep plans to build a multi-purpose indoor athletic complex on campus, but the process of obtaining permits has caused delays. However, “they are still full steam ahead on building the facility,” Adams said. 

MØDE Prep had one, national, prep team last year. 

This year, the school had hoped to have two national-level prep teams and one local high school program that would compete in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. 

Adams said Monday the school was running into “some stalls” with starting a high school team, but was still on track to have two national prep teams. 

“My decision had little or nothing to do with what we’re doing (at MØDE Prep),” Adams said. 

“I'm very excited to watch MODE Basketball take the next step forward,” he added. “I'll continue to offer help where I can. I'll always stay involved in the lives of our inaugural team, who truly paved the way for making MØDE Basketball a reality."