Webber steps down after 18 years at NC

The initials are the same but the name has changed as North Central’s boys basketball coach.

Jase Wambold has been named to replace Jay Webber, who resigned after 18 years. Webber’s career record is 156-251.

“It’s time for a change,” Webber, 51, said. “It’s just taken a toll. It’s my choice.”

The Indians went 0-20 last year and the junior varsity also was winless. The freshmen won just a handful of games.

NC’s last state tournament appearance was in 2011 when it took sixth.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Webber said. “I probably stayed on too long in some respects.”

Wambold faces a challenge rebuilding the program.

“We have nowhere to go but up,” said Wambold, 30, an assistant the past two years at Whitworth. “We have to put in some work and time to create success at the lower levels.”

Before landing at Whitworth, Wambold was an assistant for three seasons at Aloha High in Beaverton, Ore. He had one-year assistant positions at Frenchtown, Mont., and Forest Grove, Ore.

• A second coaching change in GSL boys basketball just happened as Tim Wood is stepping down at Rogers to devote more time to a young family (three daughters) and his athletic director duties.

Wood coached for five years, finishing with a 45-74 record. The Pirates’ biggest win last year came when they pulled an upset on the road knocking off top-seeded Kamiakin in a subregional game.

“I thought about this during the season, but I didn’t make the decision until well after the season,” Wood said. “I didn’t want to do anything rash. It’s 100 percent driven by family. I was gone too often.”

Wood expects to announce his replacement by the middle of next week.

• Coaching vacancies and hires abound in the region. Here’s what we know at this point:

• After a highly successful five-year run as girls basketball coach at Freeman, Scotties grad Ashlee Nimri is stepping down to spend more time with a young family.

Nimri coached the Scotties to back-to-back state titles in 2010 and 2011.

A search for a replacement is underway.

• Billy Flett has resigned after 14 seasons as boys basketball coach at Wellpinit. His teams were 252-99 with four league titles and four state appearances including third in 2010.

A replacement has yet to be named.

• LaCrosse-Washtucna must replace head football, boys basketball and girls basketball positions.

Jeff Nelson, the head football coach who resigned, will continue as athletic director. He was head coach for 19 years.

“It’s time to chase the kids around,” Nelson said.

Mike Jones was the head boys basketball coach and he stepped down for family reasons, too, Nelson said.

• Springdale is searching for football and boys basketball coaches.

Mark Edwards resigned after seven years as football coach but will continue as girls basketball coach, Springdale athletic director Kyle Dodge said.

• Chewelah is looking for a boys basketball coach after Rocky Verbeck resigned following 10 seasons.

• Bonners Ferry must replace boys and girls basketball coaches.

• Rogers has hired Rod Tamura as wrestling coach and Ken Bell as cross country coach.

• University must replace volleyball and baseball coaches.

• Priest River is looking for a volleyball coach after Katie Bodecker took the head coaching position at Whitworth.