CdA recommends Stangel

A former California police officer will be recommended for hire as Coeur d’Alene High’s head baseball coach.

Chris Stangel was selected over three Coeur d’Alene assistant coaches, Coeur d’Alene athletic director Larry Schwenke said. Schwenke said Stangel’s hiring is pending approval by the school board.

Stangel, a police officer for nine years, would replace Brian Holgate, who resigned last spring after 10 years as head coach. Holgate resigned to spend more time with his family.

“We’re really excited about the energy, focus and commitment that Chris demonstrated throughout the interview process,” Schwenke said. “He’s going to be a very welcomed addition to our staff and community.”

Other finalists were Nick Rook, a CdA High graduate and varsity baseball and football assistant; Chad Booth, also a CdA High grad and a former junior varsity baseball coach and current varsity football assistant; and former Seattle Mariners pitcher Rob Ramsey, a CdA varsity assistant the past two years.

Stangel, 44, retired from law enforcement a year ago and has spent the past year as a stay-at-home dad. He and his wife bought a home in CdA 18 months ago but continue to live in Danville, Calif.

“I want to build upon an already great tradition,” Stangel said of replacing Holgate. “I’ve been a man of service. That’s what I’ve always done and what I love to do. This gives me an opportunity to continue doing what I love.”

Stangel was a standout player at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. He went on to play at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., where he was named to the all-West Coast Conference team in 1983 and 1984. He signed with the San Francisco Giants and spent four years in their minor league organization.

His first minor league coach, at Everett, Wash., was Rocky Bridges, who is retired and lives in CdA. Rocky’s son, Cory Bridges, is the head coach at Lake City.

Stangel has no high school head coaching experience. He was an assistant for three years at De La Salle and has been the head coach of the Colt 45 Baseball Academy (for youth ages 13 to 18) in San Francisco’s East Bay area for several years.

“His level of experience, not only coaching but his playing experience, and overall sense of knowing where he would like to take the program stood a little apart (from the other candidates) in the areas of directing the program,” Schwenke said.

Timberlake tabs Rider

Bill Rider has been named head baseball coach at Timberlake High School.

Rider, a 1998 Lake City graduate, replaces Tracy Turrell, who resigned last spring after three seasons as head coach. Rider was the junior varsity coach at Timberlake the past two years and was previously a Lake City assistant for two years.

“He’s great working with kids and he knows the game very well,” Timberlake athletic director Tim Cronnelly said. “He’s also familiar with our program.”