Viking basketball coach Leiss resigns effective immediately

COEUR d'ALENE - Kent Leiss, who has won nearly 61 percent of his games as Coeur d'Alene High's boys basketball coach, and is in his 10th season as Vikings coach, resigned abruptly on Friday, citing issues with several of the parents of his players.

"The biggest issue that parents had was that with my coaching style, some thought I was verbally abusive," Leiss told the Press in a phone interview late Friday night. "I'd call it tough love. I'm pretty direct with my players, but I guess in this day and age, some kids can't take it."

Darren Taylor, in his first year as varsity assistant coach at Coeur d'Alene, has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season, according to a news release issued late Friday afternoon by the Coeur d'Alene School District.

The Vikings have three regular season games remaining, starting today at Post Falls, prior to the start of the 5A Region 1 tournament Feb. 15.

Leiss, 49, had an overall record of 140-91 at Coeur d'Alene. The Vikings are 10-7 this season, and on a three-game losing streak. Leiss previously coached at Flathead High in Kalispell, Mont. In 24 seasons as a high school coach, his overall record is 318-216.

Leiss said he elected to resign, rather than fight for his job, because he was "led to believe there was no other choice."

"I've been a coach and (American history) teacher for 24 years," Leiss said. "I've never had one negative coaching or teaching evaluation. It's hard to swallow right now, but if they don't want me to be coach, then I'll coach somewhere else."

Leiss guided the Vikings to state four times, all in the last six seasons, including a second-place finish in 2008. The Vikings were sixth in 2007, third in 2011 and went 0-2 at state last season.

"The Viking community would like to thank coach Leiss for his commitment to the basketball program and the students of Coeur d'Alene High School," athletic director Todd Gilkey said in the release.

Leiss received Coach of the Year honors in the Inland Empire League in 2007-08 and the 5A IEL in 2010-11, according to the release.

Taylor, a Coeur d'Alene High grad, formerly was head girls basketball coach at Lake City for nine seasons, guiding the Timberwolves to a state title in 2007.

Press sports writers Mark Nelke and Jason Elliott contributed to this story.