Prep notebook: Cheney hires JT Johnson as girls basketball coach

JT Johnson finally got a head girls basketball coaching job.

Johnson, 60, a former longtime Shadle Park assistant coach, teacher and graduate, interviewed for two Greater Spokane League jobs and applied for another in the past year.

His persistence paid off. Johnson has been hired as Cheney’s girls coach.

“I’m honored and excited,” Johnson said.

Johnson has one more year of teaching before he retires at Shadle. Beyond that, he’s not sure if he’ll seek a teaching position at Cheney or not.

He coached freshman boys under Jim Redmon at Lewis and Clark last year. After not being hired at Shadle and coming up short when George Pfeifer was hired at LC, Johnson thought his hopes of becoming a head coach had passed him by.

Johnson is looking forward to building a program at Cheney.

“We haven’t been as competitive as we’re capable of,” Johnson said. “We have the talent to build the program. They just have to be committed. It’s my job to put a system in place that will help them be successful.”

• Cheney filled its boys basketball position with former Eastern Washington University standout Gregg Smith.

Smith played on EWU’s first NCAA tournament-qualifying team in 2004.

• Cheney filled its athletic director position and four other coaching positions.

Greg Hare, a middle school athletic direction in the Mead School District, replaces Jim Missel, who is moving to Arizona.

The other coaching hires are: Heather Zorroua, volleyball; Derek Slaughter, boys cross country and boys track; and Camille Mosely, girls cross country.

• Dave DeMers resigned as Sandpoint’s boys and girls track coach.

DeMers spent the last 27 years as the head coach.

• After 11 seasons, Bill Rider resigned as baseball coach at Timberlake to spend more time with family.

Rider, a Lake City grad, took five teams to state including this year.

• Shannon Hill has been named Lakeland’s cross country coach, replacing Mike Normand, who is retiring.

• Stacey Sonder stepped down after one season as boys basketball coach at Lakeside (Plummer/Worley). It was the second time as boys coach. He also coached the girls for one year.

• Gabe Medrano, 40, has been named athletic director at North Central.

He replaces Mike Ranieri, who is moving to Montana.

Medrano coached the NC girls basketball team for five years before stepping down a year ago.

“I’m very excited about the new role,” Medrano said. “I hope to bring energy and excitement that I brought to coaching to the athletic director. I hope to be a great resource for the coaches and an advocate for the student-athletes.”

Ex-Baylor coach hired

Brian Hosfeld, who coached Baylor for eight seasons, has been named Lake City’s volleyball coach.

He replaces Bret Taylor, who resigned last month after six years.

Hosfeld, 49, moved to Coeur d’Alene last spring because he had family there. In addition to his time at Baylor (1996-2003), Hosfeld coached 12 years as an assistant college coach including eight years at Texas.

He led Baylor to its first two NCAA tournament appearances (1999, 2001).

“In 15 years, I haven’t come across anything quite like (his resumes),” LC athletic director Jim Winger said. “We happened to land a big fish. You don’t call for references at Baylor and Texas very often. Everybody I talked to say he’s a great guy and a great person.”

Hosfeld coached the Spokane Catalyst, a U-16 club team, this spring.

He learned of the LC opening through Taylor.

“I’ve heard they’ve been good in the past and have some tradition throughout their athletic department,” Hosfeld said. “They’ve got some young talent coming in, too.”

Hosfeld is a native of Long Beach, California.