East Valley’S Clements Terminates Long Coaching Career

Jim Clements, who coached successfully for 19 years at four area high schools, is calling it quits.

The East Valley High football coach announced his resignation after eight years as a Knight.

“After doing it for 36 years, I’ve got to develop a whole new identity,” said Clements. “Certainly, it won’t be as a coach any more.”

East Valley never experienced the same success that Clements had enjoyed in previous stops at West Valley, Coeur d’Alene and Pullman high schools.

That was one in an accumulation of factors that played in Clements’ decision, he said.

“I hate to use the word burnout. I don’t really feel that,” he said. “But I feel good about this decision. I just know it’s time and know it’s best for everyone concerned.”

Clements had an electrifying start to his head coaching career, at West Valley from 1981-84. The Eagles were 32-9-1 in four years, including a 24-2-1 Frontier League record, reaching the 1984 State AA finals.

The following year Clements coached Coeur d’Alene to the Idaho state championship.

“That was kind of a unique experience,” said Clements.

Contract uncertainty in Coeur d’Alene led to his move the next year to Pullman. The Greyhounds won one league title and made three playoff appearances in six seasons.

Last season’s 2-7 record, EV’s first in the Greater Spokane League, was just his third losing campaign.

“I don’t want to shortchange any place,” Clements said. “But of all the places I’ve been, some of the nicest kids have been at EV.”

Clements coached five years at an East Detroit Public School system junior high, assisted six years at a high school in Flagstaff, Ariz., and spent six years as an assistant at two colleges.

“We used to joke that my children called me `Uncle Daddy.’ That’s why I got out,” said Clements, who left college coaching at the University of Minnesota to take the WV job.

He will remain on staff at EV.