New Boys BB Coach At CdA High

Greg Lee/SR sports reports:

Kurt Lundblad will follow in his father’s footsteps as the next Coeur d’Alene High boys basketball coach. Lundblad was named the Vikings’ next coach Tuesday, replacing Kent Leiss, who resigned with three games left in the regular season amidst parents dissatisfaction. A 1984 CdA graduate, Lundblad, 47, was a three-year starter for his father, Dean, who was the Viks’ head coach from 1968-69 to 1983-84. “I grew up in the gym from age 2,” Lundblad said. “I’m very humbled and excited about the opportunity. It’s not about my father, it’s not about me. It’s about Viking basketball.” More below.

Lundblad was one of seven interviewed. CdA interviewed five candidates last week, including former Lewis Clark State College and Idaho men’s basketball coach George Pfeifer, before interviewing Lundblad and one other candidate Monday, CdA athletic director Todd Gilkey said.

“His passion for Coeur d’Alene High School, his passion for the game of basketball and his plan for developing an overall program from grade school to high school was pretty impressive,” Gilkey said.

Lundblad has previous head coaching experience. He coached three years at Sandpoint, from 1998-99 to 2000-01. Sandpoint was 26-44 overall under Lundblad.

He played two years with Lake City coach Jim Winger at CdA.

“I’m happy for Kurt,” Winger said. “I’ve known him for as long as I can remember. He did a good job at Sandpoint.”

Lundblad said that former North Idaho College men’s coach Rolly Williams will be an unpaid assistant coach.

Lundblad’s son, Brody, a standout AAU player, will be a freshman at CdA in the fall.