Another Coach Leaves Post Falls

John Pettoello, who helped found the American Legion and high school programs in Post Falls, has resigned as baseball coach at Post Falls High School.

Pettoello, who helped established the Legion program 16 years ago, started Post Falls High’s program in 1993.

Pettoello, 44, said he resigned reluctantly.

“I would have liked to continue coaching, but circumstances surrounding the program won’t allow me to,” said Pettoello, a longtime middle school teacher.

Pettoello declined to be more specific.

“I wasn’t forced to resign, but it’s not a willful resignation either,” he said.

Post Falls finished 5-18 overall this spring.

“He’s going to be missed for what he brings to coaching and to young men,” new Post Falls athletic director Jeff Choate said. “Hopefully someone can build on the things that John has done and take a step forward.”

Pettoello, a Gonzaga Prep grad and cousin of Post Falls resident and former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, coached Legion for nine years, including an overlap season the first year the high school fielded a team.

“I’m going to miss it,” Pettoello said.

The job hasn’t been opened for applications.

Pettoello is the fourth head coach to resign this year. Post Falls officials filled boys basketball, wrestling and volleyball positions last month.

Coaching carousel

Karla Mitchell has resigned again as Coeur d’Alene’s head volleyball coach.

Mitchell, 29, resigned two years ago before rescinding her resignation. CdA finished 24-12 last year and was fourth at state.

The six-year coach, a Kellogg High grad, is expecting her second child next month. Her assistant, Anne Farrell, has also resigned.

The vacancy means CdA must fill two head coaching positions. Geary Jerde resigned last month as the girls soccer coach.

Lisa Cheney, an assistant girls basketball coach in the Meridian School District, has been named head coach at Kellogg.

Cheney replaces Michael Moore, Kellogg’s principal who coached one season. He resigned to be a principal in his hometown in New York.

Brian Graves has resigned as head baseball coach at Timberlake after two seasons.

Graves, who lives in Rathdrum and teaches at Betty Keifer Elementary, will continue as an assistant football coach at Lakeland. He will likely take an assistant baseball coaching position, too.

No replacement has been hired at Timberlake.

Bonners Ferry will have new head coaches in boys and girls basketball next year.

Kelly (Meeker) Hinthorn, a former Bonners Ferry standout athlete and honors student, replaces Jim Nash as the girls coach.

Nash coached six years. His teams were 87-55 overall, including an 10-13 mark last year.

Dan Meddock, a Bonners Ferry native, returns to take over for Ken Robertson as boys basketball coach.

Robertson coached six years. His teams were 58-77 overall, including an 11-12 record last year.

Meddock has coached most recently in the Portland area. His brother, Rick, formerly was head coach at East Valley.

Marlo Watkins has resigned as head volleyball coach at Falls Christian Academy. No replacement has been named.

Draftee signs

Bobby Jenks, selected in the fifth round of the major leagues’ amateur draft Monday, signed with the Anaheim Angels late Wednesday.

The right-handed pitcher, who was academically ineligible the past two high school seasons at Timberlake in Spirit Lake, has been assigned to Butte, Mont., in the Rookie-class Pioneer League.

Area preps make college plans

A handful of North Idaho athletes have announced their college destinations.

They are:

Carmi Eberle of Post Falls, a three-year starter in basketball whose junior season was cut short due to shoulder surgery, is headed to Community Colleges of Spokane.

Brittany Douglas of Coeur d’Alene, a 6-foot post on the Vikings’ state title basketball team, plans to play at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.

Douglas was a two-year starter for the Vikings.

Michelle Stevens, a three-year starter at outside hitter and defensive specialist at Clark Fork, will be a defensive specialist for the North Idaho College volleyball team.

Jessica Lippi of Sandpoint is going to walk on the volleyball team at Georgia Tech.

Lippi is recovering from recent back surgery. The injury forced her to sit out her senior season. She was a two-year starter at setter after starting as a freshman at outside hitter.

Brandi Brumley of Lake City, a three-year starter in softball at third base, is headed to Walla Walla Community College.

Devin Rinaldi of Sandpoint plans to play basketball at Whitworth.

The 6-foot-5 Rinaldi averaged 15.1 points and 10 rebounds last year.