Watkins To Fill Bundy’s Shoes

Lewis Watkins will be North Idaho College’s next track and cross country coach.

Watkins will replace Mike Bundy, who announced his resignation effective at the end of the track season, athletic director Jim Headley said.

Watkins, 31, has assisted NIC men’s and women’s track and cross country teams for one year. He previously assisted at Lake City High and Coeur d’Alene High.

“It’s going to be the same kind of program that Mike has had,” said Watkins, a former NIC track and cross country athlete. “The emphasis will be on student-athletes in the five northern counties and we’ll work out from there.”

Watkins is an academic adviser in student services at NIC.

He grew up in Alaska and was bound for Oregon or Oregon State when a friend showed him pictures of NIC’s campus in a catalog.

“There was a white sandy beach and a volleyball court and I said, ‘I’m going there,”’ Watkins said. Bundy led NIC’s men’s and women’s track and cross country programs for most of the last 27 years. Under Bundy, NIC won the 1987 NJCAA women’s cross country title.

Good hoops

The outdoor slab basketball courts at Coeur d’Alene’s City Park have earned favorable mention in the book “Hoops Nation.”

The slab courts rated No. 26 among non-college sites and No. 5 for most scenic. The rankings were compiled by four ex-college players who toured the country.

Bohn in CdA

A reception for new Idaho athletic director Mike Bohn will be held Friday night from 5:30-6:30 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

The public is invited.

, DataTimes