Reid Adds Volleyball Job To Nc Chores

As if rebuilding a basketball program isn’t enough, John Reid has inherited a state championship volleyball team.

Reid, whose North Central girls basketball team was winless last season in his first year, is replacing Linda Bushinski as the Indians volleyball coach.

Bushinski guided NC to the State AAA championship last year but had decided before the season it would be her last before returning to college to finish her masters degree.

“They go hand in hand; they’re fabulous, the best jobs possible,” said Reid. “I’ve always been part of both at high schools I’ve been at.”

Reid was a successful basketball and volleyball coach in California before moving to Spokane five years ago. He was teaching elementary school physical education when the NC basketball job opened.

To him, adding volleyball was a natural. Seeing club and school sports compete for the same athletes bothers him.

“I’ve always tried to work my athletes in both, into all activities,” he said.

He played volleyball when he attended Cal State Fullerton and then played on a professional team while he was with the Peace Corps in Brazil. He coached both sports for 11 years in California.

Still, doubling his coaching responsibilities was a family decision.

“That is a huge factor in our family with four kids,” he said. “My wife is very involved with our sports at school. We’re both in the education field. We make our family part of the programs. Instead of going from November to August we’re going to go September to August.”

Spring has sprung - a leak

It’s just a week away from the end of April and spring sports fans, coaches and athletes are still dressing as if it’s still football season.

Saturday at Pullman, the Greyhounds baseball and softball teams had their contests postponed after snow covered their fields.

For the most part in the Greater Spokane League, baseball and softball schedules haven’t been adversely affected.

But maybe more than the headache of rescheduling, many coaches have been a little more diligent about making sure their athletes don’t lose focus when games or practices are canceled because of bad weather.

“That is true, particularly for the better players,” said 18-year Mead tennis coach Bill Wagstaff.

“Playing outside right now is a lot like putting the basketball team outside in the middle of that season. You’ve got to really be focused on what you’re trying to do.

Wagstaff couldn’t recall the last time a spring was so wet, cold and windy all at the same time.

“This (spring) has been a particularly bad one.”

News and notes

Lewis and Clark is expected to announce its new basketball coaches next week. NC could also have its football coach in place by next week. University still has an opening for volleyball coach.

The big track meets on Saturday are the Super-1/Reiswig Invitational in Coeur d’Alene and the Riverside Invitational.

The U-Hi boys and East Valley girls are the defending team champions at CdA.

At least six of the entrants for the girls pole vault have cleared 8 feet and Mary Widner of Sentinel (Missoula, Mont.) has vaulted 9-6.

Andee Schmick, who helped lead St. John-Endicott to an unbeaten season and the State B girls basketball championship, has signed to play at Eastern Washington University.

“I took my visits. Everybody said it would just come to you, … it will feel like you, it will fit,” she said. Schmick visited Idaho and Idaho State before making her decision.

Defensive back Rick Giampietri of Central Valley replaced teammate R.J. DelMese on the East roster for the June 28 AAA/AA all-star football game in Everett.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo