Starting Over Coach Mike Mclaughlin Is Building A Grid Program From The Ground Up

Mt. Spokane-Mead football

For 15 years Mike McLaughlin was head football coach at Mead High School. He built his team into a league power, winning 102 out of 145 games.

Now, the man who coached eight straight playoff teams is starting over. McLaughlin and his entire staff moved to Mt. Spokane-Mead, the district’s new high school. There are no seniors. The Wildcats will play an independent schedule, beginning Friday night in Coeur d’Alene.

Was there a reason to give up all that he had built for something new? Not really, he said.

“The success we had at Mead was enjoyable but I didn’t get up every morning thinking of maintaining it,” he explained. “Every year was a greater challenge.”

The bottom line was that the lottery which selected teachers for the new school enabled the entire football staff to remain intact.

“It was an opportunity for us to stay together,” said McLaughlin. “The success we enjoyed at Mead stemmed greatly from the staff as a whole.”

Now the staff must build another program from the ground up. Mt. Spokane will play numerous sophomores as well as juniors. Some were in the old Panther program. Some hadn’t played for awhile.

Safety is the reason for an independent schedule, which turned out to be taxing in its own right.

“I came up with the idea,” said McLaughlin. “I don’t believe it is in our best interests to line up with a lot of Greater Spokane League seniors.”

Junior Casey Clark and sophomore Jacob Swanson give the Wildcats two solid quarterbacks on which to build McLaughlin’s passing game. Junior Levi Hogue and sophomore Colin McGlocklin play running back. Sophomore Josh Wilson, juniors Ryan Dunford, Josh Cowart and Justin Gaston - the latter two new to football - are receivers.

Two-way line starters feature numerous sophomores. Most weigh in excess of 200 pounds. They are tackles Matt Dunford, Jerry Record, guards Jon Erik Ross and center Joe Kernkamp. Junior linemen are guards Andrew Richards, national rodeo competitor Andy Bolich and Ben Ensign.

Juniors Ken Militte and Troy Bishop are new to football, joining Hogue, McGlocklin and sophomore Adam Ferguson at linebacker.

Secondary people include the wide receivers and juniors Brian Boussiere and newcomer Mike Oliver.

Coaching a young and inexperienced team, admitted McLaughlin, has been different.

“We’re forced to take baby steps,” he said. “We’re used to coaching a higher skill and maturity level. This could make us all better coaches.”

And he doesn’t rule out title contention within two years after Mt. Spokane enters the GSL in 1998.

“Mead is the only place I had been a head coach. I thought I had a good idea when I got there,” said McLaughlin. “I still think I have a good idea about the approach to the program. I believe kids are kids.”

, DataTimes