Two Track Coaches, Athletic Director Retiring Mead’S Gary Baskett And Arnie Tyler, And Jan Truant Of Rogers Are Stepping Down

Some people can’t believe Jan Truant has been living this way for 12 years.

But when they get to know her, and see the love for kids that shines through in her eyes and smile, they know why.

Truant moved away from her husband, Ned, to take the job as activities coordinator at Rogers High School.

It’s a decision she has never regretted, even though it meant she would only see him about once a month.

But soon, Truant will join her spouse in Mukilteo, Wash. She is retiring at the end of the month and will move to the West Side.

Legendary Mead track coaches Gary Baskett and Arnie Tyler also are retiring.

“People ask me `how can you live this way?”’ said Truant, 56. “Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. It’s not any different than people in the military.”

Truant said she knew within five minutes of starting the job that it was one of the best decisions of her life. She and three other new administrators all began at the same time.

Truant, a Wallace native who attended the University of Montana in Missoula, began her career at the former Shoreline High in Seattle, where she spent 18 years.

She said she was one of two women athletic directors in the state in 1983-84. Now there are at least 35, she said. Truant was instrumental in organizing one of the first girls leagues for basketball and track.

“I don’t look at myself as an old person,” said Truant, who swam, bowled and golfed and was a baton twirler growing up. “But I look back at all that happened and it’s exciting for me.”

Truant also worked four years for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association before coming to Rogers.

There have been plenty of challenges.

“Rogers sometimes has gotten a bad rap,” Truant said. “One parent called and said `My kid is not coming here. Kids get knifed in the back hall.’ That doesn’t happen. The best way to show that is by taking our kids out and letting Spokane get to know them.”

Mead activities coordinator Dick Cullen has appreciated all of her efforts.

“She is just so organized and I think she has a huge vision of the big picture,” Cullen said.

“Some of us will get going in the meetings and try to get the little things knocked off, but she’s looking at the big picture - how all programs will be affected, how all kids will be affected, how girls will be affected, how girls coaches will be affected,” he said. “That comes from years of experience. That will be hard to replace.”

For Truant, the memories of the people she has worked with will always be there.

“I know myself and I don’t do leaving well,” she said. “What makes the job is the people you work with and for.”

Truant, whose replacement hasn’t been named, said she probably will work at the State 4A track meet again next year.

“And I’ll look for Rogers and Spokane kids,” she said. “They’re like your own.”

Baskett feels the same way. He’s proud of the letters he receives from his former athletes who have gone on to do great things.

He’s had a big effect on Mead’s campus. As he walked through the hallway one morning last week, a woman on staff greeted him. He quickly raised up his hand and gave her a high-five and a smile.

“I try to make a place for everybody and make them feel important,” said Baskett, 57. “Sometimes the smallest thing you say has a big impact.”

In his 20 years at Mead - 14 as head coach - Baskett helped build a track and field dynasty.

He said he will continue to teach pottery for two or three years, then change his profession.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet but I’m going to find out,” he said, noting he will do more with art. “I had to pull away. It was time for a change at Mead.”

Baskett said his career highlights include coaching his son Jason to become an All-American in three events, being a finalist for national coach of the year last season and working with such quality coaches and athletes.

“The whole program is based on being for kids,” he said. “That’s been the job, being with young kids and being able to teach them.”

John Mires, who was a Panthers assistant, will replace Baskett.

“Gary leaves behind the traditions and all the other things that go along with a successful program,” Cullen said.

“He set the standard for all others to follow. His awesome record as a coach is only surpassed by his commitment and dedication to the enhancement of the lives of young people.”

Community Colleges of Spokane athletic director Maury Ray said he hopes Baskett will make an impact on the lives of his athletes before long. Baskett said it might be in his future plans.

“We hope to have Gary working for our track program down the road,” Ray said. “He has in the past and we hope to build on that. “We think he’d be a great addition to our track staff.”

The 58-year-old Tyler, who has coached the Panther girls throwers for the past eight years, is convinced the Mead program will be fine under new coaches.

He’s seen plenty of changes at the school. Tyler remembers when trees were the only thing across the street from the school and there were only about 800 students in three grades.

“They’ll probably find some young people who want to come in and get with it and have a good time,” said Tyler, who has been teaching in the district since 1969, the last 10 at the alternative high school.

Tyler was Whitworth College’s head men’s and women’s track coach from 1976 to 1989 after coaching the Mead football team for six years.

“He’s a great technician and really special in building relationships with kids and building their confidence as well as abilities,” Cullen said.

Tyler had a scare in September when he had a heart attack. But it didn’t slow him down much.

“The first thing I thought about was getting back on the track and working with kids,” he said.

Tyler, who grew up in Seattle, said he and his wife, Alice, haven’t decided what their retirement plans are.

“I think like most everyone we will do some traveling, spend time with family,” he said. “Who knows, if an opportunity comes up we’ll take it. It’s an exciting new start.

He might still help with the track program on occasion.

“When I got the head football job they told me it was the best potential job in the state (to be at Mead) and it proved it was,” he said.