Longtime Aide Hough New Ferris Football Coach

Clarence Hough, who has been an assistant football coach in the Greater Spokane League for 15 years, was named head coach at Ferris on Thursday.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” said Hough, who assisted at Lewis and Clark last fall. “I’ve been working to prepare for this. I’m just ecstatic this opportunity presented itself.”

Hough replaces Pat Pfeifer, another former LC assistant, who announced his resignation last fall at the start of his 11th season. Pfeifer’s record with the Saxons was 50-36-2 in the GSL, with three trips to the playoffs, and 52-43-2 overall.

“Pat has definitely left that program in great shape, built it up to where it’s competitive every year,” Hough said. “Hopefully, I can build on that.”

Hough, a social studies teacher, was an assistant at Shadle Park - as well as wrestling coach - for three years before going to LC. He was an assistant at Gonzaga Prep, where he also coached wrestling, for 11 years.

During his stay at Prep, the Bullpups won two State AAA titles and reach the final game two other times. While Hough was at Shadle Park, the Highlanders made the state semifinals, and last year the Tigers won their first outright city title since 1967.

“Clarence Hough has been in three top programs in the GSL and he is, without a doubt, the highest respected assistant to come out of the GSL in many years,” Ferris activities coordinator Ray Hare said. “He has been a head coaching prospect for five years. He could have been a head coach earlier if he had chosen to go outside the city.”

Hough said he learned attention to detail from Don Anderson at Gonzaga Prep, a joy for the job and the importance of having fun from Bob Haney at Shadle Park and enthusiasm and caring from John Hook at LC.

“Hopefully, the kids I have will be well prepared and will work hard,” Hough said. “That’s where I’m coming from. It’s a great chance.”

Hare said, “Everyone we spoke to spoke about his ability to relate to his athletes and get the most out of them. He is the consummate teacher and coach and he has the respect of kids, his peers and people in the community.”

Hough was a four-year player at Grants Pass (Ore.) High School and was all-state as a senior. His head coach was Gary Mires, now at Walla Walla, and Cheney coach Tom Oswald was an assistant. Hough went to the University of Idaho, playing for Ed Troxel, and earned All-Big Sky honors as an offensive guard during his senior season of 1976.

He said he would ask the current Ferris assistants to stay.

“He was the best man for this situation as it exists now,” Hare said. “He was the best of an outstanding pool of candidates.”