Greg Lee: Monson recalls impact ‘Coach Jordan’ had

It’s commonly believed that a high school athlete’s first head coach can have a lifelong imprint.

It’s something that Don Monson says happened to him.

The former University of Idaho and Oregon men’s basketball coach will pay homage to the most influential high school coach in his life at a funeral service to celebrate the long and fruitful life of Elmer Jordan.

Jordan, the highly successful Coeur d’Alene basketball coach and real estate agent, died Jan. 7 at the age of 87. Six days before he died, Monson talked with him for the last time during a visit at the hospital.

“He was pretty sick, but he was still coherent and able to talk a little bit,” said Monson, who played on Jordan’s first state championship team at CdA in 1949.

Monson, who lives in Spokane, will be one of five speakers at the funeral service, which will be held Friday morning at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church – across the street from CdA High. The service begins at 11. Two other former players, Don Haynes and Charlie Nipp, along with retired Air National Guard Gen. Denny Hague and Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem, both CdA graduates, also will speak.

Monson said he talked with Jordan weekly in recent years. Monson also met with Jordan and a group of about 40 CdA High graduates for lunch monthly for the last 11 years.

“As he got older I’d come over and drive him a few places,” Monson said. “It was always special to be with him.”

When Jordan was inducted into the Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, Monson was the presenting speaker.

“It was a real privilege when he called me up and asked if I’d introduce him,” said Monson, who turns 74 in April.

From the time Monson played for Jordan to their last visit, he addressed him one way and one way only.

“When I was in his presence I never gave it one iota of a thought,” Monson said. “That’s the way it was – he was Coach Jordan. I never called him Elmer. In my day you called people by Mr. and Mrs.; you didn’t blare out first names like they do nowadays.”

Monson will always remember the time Jordan came to watch one of his early games as a head coach. Monson’s sideline demeanor could be, well, fiery at times.

“Yeah, that’s a good word,” Monson said when the adjective was suggested.

Monson had one of those moments when the veins in his neck swelled.

“He never said much, but he looked at me like, ‘Where did you come up with that stuff?’ Monson said, chuckling. “He had a real influence on me. My idea of getting into coaching was I wanted to be like him. I’ll always be very thankful that he was in my life.”