East Valley Names Hisaw As New Boys Track Coach

Because of a technicality, Curt Hisaw is apparently in and Dave McCarty is out as head boys track coach at East Valley High, just two weeks before the start of the 1997 season.

Hisaw’s selection is predicated upon formal approval by the school board at its next meeting, Feb. 25.

For 14 years McCarty has been co-coach of the EV boys track team with Nick Lazanis. Lazanis, EV’s girls cross country coach, resigned as co-coach of the boys track team this year to become assistant girls track coach, and the position was considered open by district policy.

“Because he resigned, I got fired,” said McCarty.

McCarty said that he originally understood that he wouldn’t have to apply for the position, that he would become sole coach. Then he said he was told that because it was a change in position and salary that it would have to be opened for hire.

“It’s a matter of anytime a position is open, others have a right to that position,” said EV High principal Jeff Miller, who added it was his decision not to continue with co-coaches. “By our practices we were forced to re-post the position.”

McCarty and Hisaw applied and an eight-person selection committee, which included three administrators and five spring sports coaches, recommended Hisaw.

Hisaw, a 1964 EV graduate and 15-year district instructor, coached track at Cheney High School between 1970 and 1978.

“I bailed out because of my kids,” said the former Eastern Washington University pole vault star. “I wanted to be a dad to them first.”

Now that both of his kids are completing college he decided it was time to return to the sport.

“I’ve been a track junkie all my life,” he said. “It is time to get back into it a bit.”

McCarty is also an EV grad and 20-year high school teacher and coach.

A 1970 state mile champion, he remains coach of the EV boys cross country team, which placed sixth in state this year. Since 1983, when he and Lazanis became co-coaches, Knight track teams have won five Frontier League titles and finished second five other times.

McCarty admitted that his decision to allow Lazanis to become co-coach probably contributed to his difficult situation. “I shot myself in the foot,” he said.

McCarty said he would prefer to remain as head track coach, but that he would be willing to serve as an assistant.

The selection process has caused uneasiness for all concerned.

“I feel that 20 years doesn’t mean anything, I guess,” said McCarty. “I was never criticized for anything, but still get the feeling that you got fired and no one’s telling you why.”

Hisaw said that it has created an awkward situation.

“There’s no way I wanted to cause a political problem. I truly empathize with Dave,” he said. “I thought I’d be a good candidate. If you want a position and it comes open, do you not apply?”

Both McCarty and Hisaw were solid candidates for the head coaching job, Miller said. When you have two such people vying for the same job, a committee must make a difficult choice, he said.

“Unfortunately, because Dave couldn’t just be promoted, it had to be posted and we went the full route,” Miller said.

, DataTimes