Lundblad relieved of coaching duties
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press</p><p>Kurt Lundblad, pictured, will not return after three years as Coeur d’Alene High boys basketball coach, the school announced Wednesday.</p>
Cd’A High grad will not return after 18-6 season
After three years and a 51-20 record as boys basketball coach at Coeur d’Alene High, Kurt Lundblad will not return as coach after not having his contract renewed.
“I was just very fortunate to coach at Coeur d’Alene and very thankful for the opportunity,” Lundblad said. “We had great kids, players, students, student body, boosters and parents. I had a wonderful three years, and fortunate with the relationship I had with the players.”
Lundblad played at Coeur d’Alene, graduating in 1984. His father also coached at Coeur d’Alene for 16 seasons. Lundblad also coached at Sandpoint for three years (1998-2001), going 26-44. After leaving Sandpoint, he was an assistant coach for two years at North Idaho College under women’s coach Greg Crimp.
Coeur d’Alene advanced to state 5A tournament play-in games in his first two years at the school.
“Kurt put in a lot of hard work, and we appreciate that,” Coeur d’Alene athletic director Bryan Duncan said. “But we decided to go in a different direction.”
Lundblad was notified of the school’s decision on Wednesday.
“With all personnel decisions, it’s a team decision,” Duncan said. “It’s a difficult decision to make, but we as a group decided to go in a different direction.”
Earlier this season, Lundblad drew three of five technical fouls in a 5A Inland Empire League game at Lewiston. He was suspended for games at Big Sky High in Missoula, as well as at Moscow, but returned to the bench as Coeur d’Alene beat Lewiston at Elmer Jordan Court.
Coeur d’Alene graduates four players from this year’s roster.
“I’ve coached all those kids since the third grade,” Lundblad said. “I’ve been very lucky and I’m sure they’ll hire a great coach and person and those kids will be in good hands. I’m disappointed and sad, because I loved the kids. But life goes on, so I’ll focus on health, family and other things that are tough to do when you’re the basketball coach. I very much appreciate the support from the parents and coaches associated with the program. It’s been a great three years, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity. I loved every minute of it.”