Nc Coach Van Lierop Steps Down
Don Van Lierop, who had North Central in the hunt for a Greater Spokane League boys basketball playoff berth one year after a winless season, has resigned as the Indians’ head coach.
“I resigned because I didn’t wish to be a part-time coach by teaching in one school and coaching in another. That’s basically what it is,” Van Lierop said.
Van Lierop took the NC job two years ago after four successful seasons as the junior varsity coach at Ferris. There was no teaching position available at NC and he remained at Ferris.
The Indians were 0-20 his first year - although one result was later reversed - and 0-16 in the GSL. This past season they were 6-14 overall, 4-12 in league play and in contention to make the District 8 tournament until the final week.
“At the time I was hired, they indicated it would be a one-year situation at the longest, although nobody ever guaranteed a teaching position at any time,” Van Lierop said. “Everybody who’s connected is short-changed. At Ferris, I didn’t get to follow some of my students (athletic careers) and it was difficult that the only students I knew at North Central were my players.
“There are things you need to deal with outside the season, before and after, that are more difficult to do when you’re not at the school. And, you’re not around the players to help them deal with losing and winning.”
Prior to moving to Ferris, Van Lierop was head coach at Chewelah and Waterville-Mansfield for one year each. W-M finished sixth in the State B tournament in 1988.
“I don’t regret it at all. I am thankful to North Central for giving me the opportunity,” Van Lierop said. “It was a very difficult decision. I do wish them the best.”
Van Lierop said he was keeping his options open as he looks for another job in basketball.
NC activities coordinator John McCoy said the search for a new coach would begin immediately.
Justice served
The Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association righted a wrong by Associated Press voters.
The coaches named Will Hutchens, the 6-foot-3 standout for state champion Dayton, their Class B basketball Player of the Year.
The AP teams were named last week and Hutchens wasn’t even on the ballot. That is the same group that named outstanding sophomore Tricia Lamb of St. John-Endicott its Class B girls player of the year over Davenport star Jennifer Stinson.
Stinson became the all-time leading scorer in Washington high school history this season. But when the ballots were sent out, AP listed Stinson’s scoring average at 16 points per game, half of her output.
Hutchens was picked to the coaches’ A/B State team, which will play a City team in the WIBCA/Molten 1995 All-Star games. The doubleheader with AAA/AA teams will be June 21 at Gonzaga and at Seattle Pacific the next night.
Area players on the A/B teams are Rob Tiegs and Beau Hilty-Jones of Garfield-Palouse, Ryan Floyd of Sprague-Harrington, Gary Hughes of Curlew, Keith Cook of Riverside and Joe Deutsch of Medical Lake.
On the AAA/AA teams are Jason Smith of Mead and Matt Smith of Colville.
The coaches named Donald Watts of Lake Washington as Washington’s 1995 Mr. Basketball.
AAA/AA alternates include Tyler Jordan of Gonzaga Prep and Greg Jones of West Valley. Adam Rapelje of Northwest Christian and Travis Goldsmith of Freeman are A/B alternates. The complete roster is in the Stat Sheet.
One bad draw
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive board confirmed what was already known - the drawing two weeks ago for the State AAA girls basketball tournament was flawed.
That draw put third-ranked Mead, which finished second in the Eastern Regional, against No.1 and undefeated Prairie, the defending champ, in a first-round state game.
“We more clearly defined the language to spell out that all No. 2s should be seeded before any No. 3s are in place,” WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese said.