Ferris picks football coach from Battle Ground

Ferris High has chosen Battle Ground coach Jim Sharkey as its new football coach, contingent on approval by the Spokane School District board. The board is expected to act on the appointment Wednesday.

“It probably came down to his successful years as a head football coach,” said Ferris principal Erik Ohlund when asked why Sharkey was selected. “We also heard from everyone we talked with that he drew kids into the program and kept them in the program.”

Sharkey replaces Clarence Hough, who resigned after the 2005 season.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity,” Sharkey said. “It’s a really important move for our family; we really wanted to get back to Eastern Washington.

“We love the school, love the city and I really feel strongly it’s an opportunity to go to the next level.”

Sharkey, 39, and wife Kelly have two children, son Drew, 12, and daughter Hayley, 9.

Sharkey graduated from Washington State University in 1988 and started his high school head-coaching career at Waitsburg, where he twice took the Cardinals to the State B-11 playoffs, including their first playoff appearance in 1997. He moved to Woodland, a 2A school north of Vancouver, in 1999, before taking over at Battle Ground in 2003. The Tigers lost state play-in games that year and last season.

In 10 years as a head coach, Sharkey has 58-40 overall record.