New Appreciation Year Spent In New Delhi Opens E Of Former Coach To Way Of Life In Third World Country

A year spent teaching in New Delhi, India, gave Sam Janke a new appreciation for coaching - and for the world.

Leaving the comforts of America to live in a country where electricity fails daily and the water isn’t always hot wasn’t easy.

The experience opened the former University High’s basketball coach’s eyes to life in a Third World country, where being a member of the servant class is a means to employment.

It also provided a refreshing outlook on sports.

“Sports in overseas schools are an enrichment activity and not a means to an end,” he said. “The kids have the right attitude. There is no overemphasis on sports.”

Janke established the foundation for University High’s girls basketball program from 1975 through 1987. His teams won 150 games, two Greater Spokane League titles - including an unbeaten 1979 season - and played in three regional tournaments, a forerunner to the current 16-team state format.

After leaving U-Hi for Sedro Woolley High, he coached seven more years. Included were two seasons when he headed both girls basketball and boys baseball. That experience soured him.

“It was a mistake,” he said. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I was coaching in the summer and had Legion baseball and basketball games at about the same time.”

Janke wasn’t getting paid a dime extra for his time and told his wife Connie that the volunteer effort wasn’t being appreciated.

“One of the reasons I left (the Valley) was to simplify my life,” said Janke, who spent the last three weeks visiting friends in the Valley. “Like an idiot, I got over there and was right back into it. I turned in my resignation for both sports. I had enough.”

Connie, who spent summers conducting Math Their Way workshops, had done a workshop in Germany. A visit piqued Janke’s interest in teaching overseas.

He looked into the International School Services organization and, last year, was chosen to teach at the American Embassy School in New Delhi. Janke taught middle school science, Connie taught kindergarten. Their daughter Jill remained in college at Pacific Lutheran University near Tacoma. Son Jesse accompanied them, completing his senior year in India. He graduated both from Embassy School and, four days later, from Sedro Woolley this spring.

Though he had no intention of coaching, Janke found himself back on the court.

“They needed a boys basketball coach and asked if I would do it,” he said.

It turned out to be a gratifying experience. His team, made up of students from five countries - including starters from Yugoslavia, South Korea, Japan and the United States - won 5 of 6 pre-season games and handily won a tournament featuring nine teams from subcontinent Asian countries.

“I told them I would coach under a couple of stipulations,” he said. “Number one it would not be year-around. I told them I would play everybody and if we win, we win. The emphasis would be on having fun.”

Sports seasons rotate at the embassy school. Basketball last year was played beginning in August, right when the Jankes arrived. This year, it will begin in October and end the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Janke, who also coached the middle school team, will be back. His coaching enthusiasm is rejuvenated.

“It was probably the second best experience I’ve had in 27 years of coaching,” he said. “The 1979 group with Sarah Hawkins, Rhonda Nichol, Kitty Byrne, Cheryl King and Donna Cramer was pretty special.”

So, too, has been the Janke’s experience teaching in India.

“We had a great year, I wish I had done this 10 years ago,” he said.

Indeed, when this two-year contract ends, they will likely sign on for two more. After that, the couple is talking about exploring other international teaching options.

They have made friendships with teachers who are adventurous and enjoy what they do, he said.

Students at the international school are highly motivated, as opposed to public schools, said Janke. And classes are rigorous.

“It definitely revived me; I was getting frustrated with teaching,” said Janke. “I taught the whole year without raising my voice once. I’d have a meltdown once a week in previous years.”

The Jankes also traveled to places such as Katmandu in Nepal, the palaces and forts of Rajasthan in a historical desert area between New Delhi and Pakistan. They spent several weeks in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent 10 days in Bangkok, Thailand.

“On the way back we’ll visit London and spend six days in Scotland,” said Janke. “Next year we’ll go to either Sri Lanka or Vietnam.”

Living in New Delhi, they’ve seen the splendor and poverty of a city of 12 million.

“India is exactly what it’s advertised - the best and worst of everything,” said Janke. “It’s spiritual and gorgeous. I love rubbing shoulders with the locals and have gone into the bowels of Old Delhi.”