HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Rook out as Coeur d'Alene baseball coach

       As Coeur d’Alene High baseball coach Nick Rook boarded the bus along with the rest of the Vikings to travel to the 5A Region 1 tournament championship game at Lewiston in early May, he was blindsided.

Then devastated a few days later.

Rook, who coached the Vikings to state tournament appearances in each of his first six seasons (2009-14) — including a state runner-up finish in 2013 — will not return for an eighth season next spring after not having his contract renewed.

“I’m pretty heartbroken right now,” Rook said Wednesday, in his first public comments since his dismissal. “Coaching baseball at Coeur d’Alene High was my dream job. I didn’t desire any other position in baseball. It’s devastating and heartbreaking. But with that said, I’m proud of the program we created.”

Rook was informed of the Coeur d’Alene School District’s decision just as he was boarding the bus to Lewiston for the title game. An appeal to fight the decision was not heard, as Rook is a non-teacher as assistant to the director of facilities at the Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort.

A day after the regional title win, Coeur d’Alene had to forfeit the win after a rules violation. It was discovered a Coeur d’Alene pitcher threw 10 pitches in the final inning in its regional opener, then for seven innings the next day against Lewiston.

Idaho High School Activities Association rules state, in this instance, a player cannot pitch more than seven innings in two games on two consecutive days.

“The last 72 hours of the season, it was total devastation,” Rook said. “Finding out that I wasn’t going to be back and with the kids and how that played out, it was really heartbreaking for them.”

Rook went 148-44 in his time as Vikings coach, winning at least 20 games in all but one season (2015). He was unable to appeal the decision not to renew his contract, as he is not a district employee.

“There’s a whole lot of kids that got to play at the next level and others that didn’t that helped improve the state of Viking baseball,” Rook said. “Some played in college and some didn’t, but from where Coeur d’Alene baseball was in 2009 when we took over to where it is today, it’s pretty spectacular.”

Prior to Rook taking over in 2009, Coeur d’Alene’s last state appearance was in 2001, when the Vikings won the state title, but had to forfeit the title to Lewiston for using an illegal player. They were third at state in 1999.

“We built the fieldhouse and were able to build some great relationships with the kids,” Rook said. “As a coaching staff, we were able to connect with players and that’s the reason why we coached. Building those relationships to have that trust where the kids would take those challenges on was big for us. I would like to thank Randy Russell and Todd Gilkey for giving me the opportunity at my dream job.”

Coeur d’Alene School District officials declined comment, noting the situation is a personnel matter.

Rook, a 1997 Coeur d’Alene High grad, said that he plans to remain in the area.

“How this was handled and lack of professionalism is embarrassing,” Rook said. “My wife and I plan on staying in the area. This is not how you treat people.

“There’s a major leadership vacuum occurring at Coeur d’Alene High. Unfortunately, it’s not a positive thing.”