Lake City’s Thacker resigns

Saying he did so with much reluctance, Jim Thacker resigned as Lake City High boys basketball coach Tuesday after three seasons.

“If I would have thought about it, I probably would have resigned a couple of days (ago), on the Ides of March, because I pretty much feel like Julius Caesar a little bit,” Thacker, 60, said. “I think I’ve done what was asked there. I’ve come in and I think I’ve elevated the program. I pretty much did what they wanted me to.”

Thacker stopped short of saying he was asked to resign.

Lake City Principal John Brumley declined to comment on whether Thacker was asked to resign.

“Jim Thacker is an excellent teacher,” Brumley said. “I respect him and I respect his decision.”

Thacker took over at LC after 29 years as head coach at Walla Walla. He replaced Kris Knowles, who stepped down after two years.

Thacker’s teams at LC were a combined 41-28 overall and 24-12 in the Inland Empire League. His final team finished second in the IEL to eventual State 5A runner-up Coeur d’Alene. The Timberwolves’ season ended when Lewiston defeated LC 39-38 in a Region I loser-out game that decided a state berth.

LC didn’t qualify for state under Thacker.

Thacker, whose coaching record is 534-332 in 36 years, picked up his 500th win in his first season at LC.

“I feel bad about leaving the guys that (are coming back),” Thacker said. “I really wanted to coach them. It’s just sad. I guess I’ve got to move on, but it’s going to be hard to do. I really don’t know what it’s going to be like not having a team to coach, but I guess I’m going to find out.”

He left Walla Walla for LC because he was eligible to retire in Washington and draw his pension. A Spokane native who played at the University of Idaho – his late father, Ray, had a highly successful career at Central Valley – Thacker started his career in 1970 in Gooding, Idaho, where he coached his only two teams there to back-to-back 2S state titles.

He left Gooding for two years at Omak, Wash., before winding up at Walla Walla. In 29 years at Walla Walla, his teams were 395-298 with a State 4A title in 1999 and a state runner-up finish.

Thacker, who teaches history, plans to continue teaching at LC. But he would like to land another coaching job.

“I’ll try to land on my feet some place,” Thacker said.

Thacker’s youngest brother, Mike, was the head coach at Freeman until last year when his coaching contract wasn’t renewed. He assisted at LC this year.