Ressa, Sutherland switch roles at U-Hi

After 28 years as head baseball coach at University High School, Don Ressa is taking a supporting role.

He announced that he’ll swap places with Scott Sutherland, his nominal assistant.

“They’ve shared the position and salary for the last few years as co-head coaches,” said U-Hi activities coordinator Ken VanSickle. “Don did the day-to-day work and was the spokesman. Now they’ll swap roles. Scott will be the lead guy and build on what Don established.”

Ressa is in his 35th year as a teacher at U-Hi. He coached junior varsity baseball and was a longtime football assistant as well as heading a baseball program that won Greater Spokane League titles in 1991 and 1995 and played in district tournaments 17 of the last 20 years.

The Titans compiled a 317-248 record with six regional appearances during his tenure. He was inducted into the Washington State High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.

“Over 60 percent of my life I’ve been a baseball coach at U-Hi,” said Ressa, 57. “It’s never been a job for me and I’d do exactly the same thing.”

He’s not retiring, even though he’s no longer head coach. Ressa will assist Sutherland and continue working with the pitchers and catchers.

NC’s Cox resigns

Tim Cox, boys soccer coach at North Central, has announced his resignation.

The Indians head coach since 1997, he coached them to the state tournament that year and won NC’s only GSL soccer title in 1999.

“My third son is now playing soccer, so I’ll be coaching two of my boys’ teams,” Cox said. “I don’t want to miss them growing up.”

He said he enjoyed the camaraderie among league coaches and will likely return.