A conscience decision

Darrell Hull loves his job as the Coeur d’Alene High boys golf coach. That’s one of the reasons he’s giving it up.

He’s been informed by his conscience that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to be a dad with two daughters, an assistant golf pro at ever busy Prairie Falls and devote the time necessary to continue coaching.

With equal parts pride and dread, Hull is counting down the days to the 5A State Tournament on Monday and Tuesday at the Coeur d’Alene Golf Club, the same track that saw the Vikings post a 4-over par team total to capture the regional title Wednesday.

“It’s going to kill me,” Hull said. “It’s one of those things that when I first got the job (in 1999) it was a dream job and something I wanted to do and I felt like I gave it 100 percent. The last year, year and a half, it hasn’t been 100 percent and that gets to me. It’s coming to an end now, that really gets to me.”

Hull readily admits if he could make a living coaching, he would. He can’t. He also readily admits that without the support of Prairie Falls pro Tim Morton and the course ownership, he would have never experienced the thrill of coaching. Under Hull, the Vikings have won two state titles and haven’t finished worse than a tie for second. The day after CdA’s regional title, Hull received congratulations from roughly 35 Prairie Falls regulars.

“It’s just real time consuming and my job at the golf course is getting more and more involved,” said Hull, whose workload was alleviated some this year by the addition of Bryan Duncan as co-coach. “People are finding out about us and they want to come out and play and that makes it real exciting and fun.”

And busy. Hull’s job description includes “a little of everything,” ranging from club-fitting to making club sandwiches.

“He works his 40-50 hours a week, teaches his 15-20 hours and then he’s with the kids,” said Morton, whose son, Ryan, is a senior standout on the Viking team. “His days are real long, but his personality never changes. He’s always positive and good with people. My boy tells me the kids just love him.”

A recent week details Hull’s time commitments. Monday: worked the morning, tournament at CdA Golf Club in the afternoon, returned to Prairie Falls to give lessons. Tuesday: Prairie Falls tournament prevented him from making Vikings practice. Wednesday: worked the morning, match at Prairie Falls, taught lessons, arrived home roughly 9 p.m. Thursday: worked the morning, missed CdA practice because it was opening day of Prairie Falls’ men’s league. Friday: departed at 5:30 a.m. for prep tourney in Colville, met wife for late dinner, arrived home at 10:30 p.m. Saturday: opened Prairie Falls at 5 a.m.

Hull wears a CdA High golf vest, but his coaching reach extends to virtually every school in the area. He’s tutored countless juniors without accepting compensation. He says it’s his way of giving back because “I remember what it was like to be a junior golfer. My first pro was Dave Lowe (whose son, Taylor, is a sophomore on the Viking varsity) and he took me aside and told me I could be a good player if I set my mind to it.”

“There’s not a more giving soul in the world of golf,” Lake City coach Kent Scanlon said. “He helps anyone who has a need. He wants everybody to play their best and get the best out of the game. He worked with one of my kids for 5-8 minutes just before the (regional) tournament the other day.”

CdA players say Hull treats everyone the same, from the top players to the freshmen. Hull, naturally, scolds himself for not being able to spend more time with the players.

“He’s worked with me since I was in fifth grade,” Ryan Morton said. “He’s been great to all of us. He’s doesn’t single out any one person. He helps out JV players with their swings. It’s not biased. Everything’s equal.”

That goes for Hull’s team rules, too. There’s not many, but golfers can’t wear jeans and hats must be worn forward. There are consequences for foul language, tossing clubs, etc. Several players, top ones included, have had to leave the clubs in the trunk for violating team rules.

“He lets us have fun, but he’s got rules like tucking your shirt in during practice,” senior Russell Grove said. “He makes you work hard and he knows a lot about golf. If you have something wrong he can help you while a lot of coaches don’t really know a lot about golf.”

Hull is particularly strict with academics. “The school says you have to pass five of your six classes,” he said. “To me, that’s not good enough. They have to have Cs in all of those classes. The reason I do that is because the golf schedule is pretty intensive and it takes them away for as much as 10-12 days a year. I tell them right up front — academics is first, sportsmanship is second and golf is third.”

Hull doesn’t play golf when his team is practicing or in a match.

“If the kids can’t see me, if I’m not visible, I feel like I’m doing a disservice to them. I can play other times,” said Hull, though he rarely does. He’s played one round this year. Hull and Tim Morton were hitting a bucket of balls recently when a stunned Prairie Falls’ member stopped and cracked, “We should take a picture because we’ve never seen you two hitting range balls at the same time.”

Hull hopes to volunteer coach next year, perhaps “helping all the teams in the league by doing whatever I can,” he said.

But that’s down the road. Hull has six years of memories to cherish and a team to coach Monday and Tuesday.

“When I get raw kids, freshmen, and get working with them and see them develop into good golfers and gentlemen, it’s such a positive feeling to make an impact on their lives,” Hull said. “Ryan (Morton) asked me to write a letter of recommendation for a school project he was doing and it was probably one of the hardest letters I’ve had to write. Just describing our relationship and how important he and guys like Russell are to me. They’re not golfers to me. They’re friends, and through them this team has flourished.”

The coach, too.