Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Area coaching carrousel turns

Time to get caught up on some of the comings and goings of coaches in the area.

• Many times when a coach resigns, family reasons are cited.

Sometimes the innocuous statement allows speculation that said coach was forced to step down.

In the case of Mead girls basketball coach Regan Drew, her resignation is all about family. She has a 2 1/2-year-old son and another boy is due in August.

Drew resigned after eight seasons at her alma mater. She never had a losing year and her teams were a combined 138-60. Two years ago the Panthers were 24-6, finishing second in the State 4A tournament – the best season under Drew. In another 24-win season (2006-07), the Panthers finished fourth at state.

“Basketball is a big part of my life and the path that I have taken,” said Drew, who played at Stanford University. “But I’m a full-time mom and a full-time teacher and those things need to come first. Being a coach is full time, too, and I couldn’t continue to run (the program) at the level it needed. Emotionally I could (coach) forever. Sometimes you just have to make some tough choices.”

Mead athletic director Dick Cullen understands why Drew resigned.

“I think the biggest thing we’ll miss is having a phenomenal role model coaching our girls basketball team,” Cullen said. “I understand the demands of teaching, coaching and family life. Regan is borderline wonder woman and tried to do it all. She will be difficult to replace.”

• There’s been quite the turnover among volleyball coaches in the area. Two positions have been filled in the Greater Spokane League (Mt. Spokane and Central Valley), two others are open (Lewis and Clark and Ferris) and a former GSL coach has taken over at West Valley.

Katie (Tikker) Bodecker, a standout player at Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) and at the University of Idaho, takes over at Mt. Spokane. Longtime coach John Reid retired.

Bodecker coached the last four years at Priest River. She took her first three teams to state – an unprecedented stretch of success at the school.

“I’m excited to be part of a great tradition at Mt. Spokane,” Bodecker said. “I hope to continue on the great success that John Reid established.”

“She’s got a dynamic personality and tremendous knowledge of the game,” Mt. Spokane athletic director Paul Kautzman said. “John and his assistants have been great answering her questions and helping her get acclimated.”

Bodecker takes over a program loaded with talent. The Wildcats return five starters.

Her husband, Ryan, coached the Priest River boys basketball team to a state title two years ago.

• Former North Idaho College volleyball coach Chris Kosty takes over at Central Valley.

Kosty was 59-18 at NIC. His final team in 2009 spent several weeks as the NJCAA’s No. 1-ranked team. He left NIC to take an assistant’s job at Indiana University.

• Former Lewis and Clark volleyball coach Julie Yearout has been hired at West Valley. She coached LC to a State 4A title in 2008 and three teams were state runners-up.

• Dave Stockwell is back in the head coaching ranks and at his fourth Kootenai County school.

Stockwell has been named boys basketball coach at Lakeland, replacing Trent Derrick, who resigned to give his full attention to his athletic director duties.

Stockwell was head coach at Post Falls for seven years and had stops at Coeur d’Alene and Lake City as an assistant girls coach. After leaving Post Falls, Stockwell spent the last four years as a boys assistant at University.

“I never thought in a million years they’d take an old guy like me,” said Stockwell, who turns 58 this summer. “I’ve missed some things about being a head coach. (Lakeland) has been at the bottom of the barrel in the (Inland Empire League) for quite a few years. I’ll see if I have the energy left to build it.”