Nic Baseball Coach Bloxom To Retire After Season Cardinals Would Like Regional Berth To Send 30-Year Mentor Out In Style

North Idaho College is hanging out the help-wanted sign again.

Baseball coach Jack Bloxom on Monday announced his retirement with his 30th season winding down. In the last 13 months, veteran coaches Rolly Williams and John Owen have resigned or retired. Williams led the basketball program for 35 years and Owen headed wrestling for 20 years.

Bloxom’s record is 560-539 with a three-game home series against Treasure Valley on Friday and Saturday. NIC must sweep to advance to the Region 18 Tournament for the first time since 1988.

“I tried to tell the kids 20 minutes ago (of his decision) and it didn’t work,” said an emotional Bloxom. “When you’re crying, you can’t talk.”

Bloxom, 58, said his decision was based on being able to leave teaching and coaching with an acceptable retirement package, a desire to pursue other interests and frustration with win-loss records the last few years.

“The majority of it is the (retirement package),” Bloxom said in typically blunt fashion. “And our situation the last three or four years has something to do with it. For whatever reason, we don’t win like I feel we should have won.”

“Knowing Jack like I do, he was typically honest to a fault where he says he can’t stand to lose and it started eating at him,” said athletic director Jim Headley, an assistant baseball coach from 1980-90 under Bloxom. “You won’t find a person who works harder at his job than Jack, but the rewards weren’t coming like he thought they should.”

Under Bloxom, NIC qualified for the regional tourney six times, finishing second twice. Prior to NIC, Bloxom, a Sandpoint native, taught and coached at Sandpoint Junior High and in Goldendale (Wash.) High.

“The kids (were the highlight),” he said. “You can put a lot of names on the kids. Over the years, there’s been so many, it’s just impossible.”

Bloxom said he will miss working with the players, pitching batting practice and the competition in Region 18. He won’t miss the long bus rides and the restless nights after agonizing losses.

If his won-loss record wasn’t as strong as he’d like, Bloxom was wholly satisfied with the academic and behavioral performances of his players.

“I can’t think of a better place to work,” Bloxom said. “My kids have gone to school and that’s very, very important to me. I think the A.D.s I’ve worked for will vouch that they’ve had less problems with my kids than any other kids who attended here as a group as an athletic team.”

Bloxom assisted Williams’ basketball program for 17 years, the last in 1984. Bloxom played three years of baseball and one year of basketball at the University of Idaho.

“You lose Rolly, Jack and John,” Headley said. “That’s three pretty big hits out of a department. I don’t know of too many programs around the U.S. that have gone through that much of a transition.”

Those known to be interested in the baseball job are current assistant coaches Tony Bevacqua and Paul Ivanovsky. NIC will advertise the position immediately. Initially, at least, it won’t involve a teaching position, Headley said.

Bloxom announced his decision before the season ended so his successor can dive into recruiting.

“Hey, we’re not through. We’ve got Treasure Valley this weekend and there’s 21 kids who think they can sweep them,” Bloxom said. “And three coaches who think they can, too.”

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