Lake City girls coach Pratt resigns

By MARK NELKE 

Sports editor 

In what was termed a mutual decision by both sides, David Pratt has resigned as Lake City High girls basketball coach after three seasons. 

Pratt, 53, was 39-32 at Lake City, guiding the Timberwolves to a 25-3 record and the state championship game in 2024.  

Pratt lives in Spokane and still teaches at nearby Mt. Spokane High, where he coached the girls basketball team for eight seasons before taking the Lake City job. 

Lake City was 7-15 and 7-14 the past two seasons.

“Lake City was a tremendous place to be; the culture is phenomenal,” Pratt said. “It was a mutual decision to let someone who is in the community, and in the school, have a shot at running the program. It’s difficult to run a program from so far away.”

Pratt said he and Lake City athletic director Troy Anderson would meet after each season and discuss the pros and cons to running a program from so far away.  

When Pratt was hired at Lake City, there were discussions about getting him on staff as a teacher, but things didn’t work out, for various reasons. 

“We both agreed that this was a good time for him to step down and make room for the program to grow for the future,” Anderson said. “Being at a distance comes with challenges. We appreciate everything that David has done for LCHS. He came in here and truly embraced the culture. He showed tremendous passion toward the school, kids and program on a daily basis.” 

“I think we did the best we could, connected as best we could, and tried to be there often as possible,” Pratt said. 

Before coaching at Mt. Spokane, Pratt was head boys basketball coach at Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., for six seasons.  

Pratt, from Los Angeles, played basketball at NAIA Corban University in Salem, Ore., and moved to the Spokane area in 1997. 

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Northwest Christian in Colbert, Wash., was a girls assistant at Mead for four seasons, and was an assistant for one season with the Kennewick girls. 

After coaching at Lakeside, Pratt was a boys assistant at Mt. Spokane for two years and assisted the Whitworth women for two seasons before taking over the Mt. Spokane girls program. 

“I don’t think either of us one wanted to part ways,” Pratt said. “I want Lake City girls basketball to take off. And if I can’t be in the building, we need someone else to take off with it.” 

Pratt said he doesn’t know what’s next for him as a coach. 

As for Lake City ... 

“Overall, my favorite place of all time,” Pratt said. “Loved every minuute of it. The people are so genuine, the leadership is outstanding.”