The Front Row with MARK NELKE August 19, 2010

Trent Derrick, who has taken over as athletic director at Lakeland High, decided that wearing less hats is better at this point in his career.

Derrick has coached the Hawks' varsity boys basketball team, and has taught chemistry and physics at Lakeland for the past 14 years. The last two years, he added duties as an assistant principal - primarily involved in discipline.

"I've been teaching for (14) years and I really enjoyed the classroom, but on the flipside, it was an opportunity to do something different, and a new challenge," said Derrick, 44. "I enjoyed all of it, but I was kinda all over the place. I'll just be able to focus on athletics, just sink my teeth into just one thing."

WELL, TWO things for now.

Derrick, who replaces the retired Will Havercroft, was hired as a fulltime athletic director, but also plans to continue as basketball coach - at least for one more season. After that, "we'll see how it goes," said Derrick, who may consider coaching at a lower level after this season.

Havercroft was AD at Lakeland the past nine years, and was also an assistant football coach for the Hawks up until a few seasons ago. It was his second stint at Lakeland, with a few years at Coeur d'Alene High sandwiched in between. When Havercroft announced he was retiring, Derrick was encouraged to apply.

Before coming to Lakeland, Derrick taught at a private school in Oregon for four years, then was a volunteer boys basketball assistant at Lewiston High under Dick Richel.

Derrick is 138-181 in 14 seasons at Lakeland. In 1999, he guided Lakeland to state for the first time since 1990. Under Derrick, the Hawks made it to state in 3A five times in six seasons between 1999-2004, including a third-place finish in 2001. Lakeland is still looking for its first trip to state in 4A since moving up in 2004.

THE AD has changed at Lakeland, but the philosophy hasn't.

"We understand three-sport athletes are critical to our success," said Derrick, who said he's happy with the current setup of 4A and 5A Inland Empire Leagues. "Or at least having them play two sports. We want to maintain that collaboration between our coaches. ... What Will has done, I hope to continue."

That includes making improvements to facilities where possible.

Derrick said he'd like to convert the two current soccer fields at the HiCo Field across the street from Lakeland High into a soccer complex of sorts, with bleachers and lights and a scoreboard. Now, the Hawks play some games at HiCo, but also play night games and regional tournament games on the football field at Corbit Field.

Derrick's new job creates another opening within the Lakeland athletic family, as he was the PA man at Hawks home football games for the past 13 years. This year, he'll be a little busy with administrative duties during games to be upstairs in the press box all night.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.