CdA hires Gilkey as new A.D.

Coeur d’Alene High dipped into the 3A ranks to hire its next athletic director.

Todd Gilkey, A.D. at St. Maries the past eight years, was named Coeur d’Alene’s A.D. on Tuesday. Gilkey, 43, replaces Larry Schwenke, who announced his retirement in March.

“It was a long weekend waiting for Randy (Russell, CdA principal) to call me to let me know one way or the other,” Gilkey said Tuesday.

Russell raved about his next A.D.

“He’s going to be a great addition to our team,” Russell said. “What’s there not to like about him? He’s a relationship-oriented guy. He loves kids and working with people. The laundry list goes on forever. I had a number of unsolicited calls about Todd during the process.”

For Gilkey, the third time proved to be the charm. He applied and interviewed previously for A.D. positions at Lake City and Post Falls.

Gilkey was preparing to go the long haul at St. Maries had he not been hired at CdA.

“It’s going to be a big challenge stepping up from St. Maries,” Gilkey said. “Coeur d’Alene will graduate 400 (seniors), which is more than we have in the entire school at St. Maries.”

Gilkey has deep roots in the area. He was born and raised in Moscow, graduating from Moscow High in 1982.

Gilkey’s hiring was greeted warmly at CdA.

“That’s good news,” Vikings football coach Shawn Amos said. “He’s a coach’s A.D. We’re excited to work with him. He’s a guy we kind of know already.”

St. Maries Principal John Cordell said CdA hired well.

“It’s sad that we have to replace him, but I’m very happy that he gets to go to Coeur d’Alene,” Cordell said. “The guy is freakishly organized. I’ve never seen anybody like him. And he’s well connected. He knows everybody from Moscow to Bonners Ferry. He will be tough to replace.”

Gilkey was one of five finalists. Others who were interviewed were: CdA teacher Mike Nelson; Chewelah A.D. Joe Feist; Rick Meddock, dean of students at East Valley High; and Ed Norman, a middle school principal/A.D. in Florence, Mont.

“Coeur d’Alene native Tim Sperber has been named A.D. at Lewiston High, replacing Ken Krahn, who is retiring.

Sperber is a 1983 CdA High graduate.

“He’s my childhood buddy. We’ve been best friends forever,” Lake City A.D. Jim Winger said. “We go back to fourth grade. We lived one block apart.”

Post Falls coach resigns

The long-rumored departure of Post Falls High boys basketball coach Dave Stockwell can be put to rest. Stockwell has resigned, taking an associate head boys coaching position at University High in Spokane Valley.

Stockwell was head coach for seven year at PF. His teams had a combined 151-97 record.

PF athletic director Craig Christensen recommended to the school board that Stockwell not be re-hired for next year. Stockwell disagreed with Christensen’s season-ending evaluation and recommendation and took his concerns to Superintendent Jerry Keane.

A compromise was worked out that would allow Stockwell to coach one more year and then resign. Stockwell didn’t agree with the compromise so he resigned.

“I couldn’t come to terms on an agreement to keep me there,” Stockwell said. “It’s been in the works for a year to get rid of me. He (Christensen) started running a paper trail on me at the end of last season.”

Christensen declined to comment about why he wanted to dismiss Stockwell.

“We appreciated the years of service he put into the school,” Christensen said.

Stockwell said he will miss coaching at PF.

“I really liked coaching there,” he said. “I really liked the kids. I had planned to be there for a while. I could have quit easily when Scott (his son) graduated. Everything I’ve ever done is for the kids. I’m disappointed more than anything. I don’t think I deserved what they did.

“I think everything in life works for the best. I don’t do a lot of things in life very well, but I think I do coach well. I love coaching more than I loved playing.”