Post Falls softball coach Stranger resigns

Brian Stranger enjoyed his three seasons as Post Falls High softball coach.

But time — and family — began to tug at him.

“I’m just kinda worn out on the coaching end,” said Stranger, who resigned earlier this week. “I’ve got two grandkids, and my granddaughter just started playing, so I just want to be a spectator for a while.”

Stranger, 60, said he has been coaching baseball or softball every year except for two since he was 14. Stranger and his wife, Kathy, started the Coeur d’Alene Crush AAU softball program in 1993.

In three years at Post Falls, Stranger guided the Trojans to a 29-43 record, including a win over Coeur d’Alene for the first time since 2010.

“The school and everybody else couldn’t have been more supportive of me,” said Stranger, who would like to help the new coaching staff in a limited role, if possible. “I really don’t want the commitment of day-to-day coaching anymore.”

Stranger, who recently designed what he calls a “digital playbook for softball — it basically replaces the dry-erase board,” said when he took over the Post Falls program, he hoped to stay for 5-6 years.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he said, “but if my heart’s not in it, I’m not going to do it. “What makes it easier is, I hope, the program is in real good shape.”

Genesis Prep names girls basketball, volleyball coaches: Brandon Haas has been named the Jaguars’ girls basketball coach, and Mindy Buck is the new volleyball coach.

Haas, who played basketball and baseball at Post Falls, graduating in 2007, was an assistant in the Genesis Prep boys basketball program, including last year when the Jaguars won the state 1A Division II title. He coached the Genesis Prep junior varsity team the past two years, after serving as a varsity assistant for one year.

“I’m very excited to take on a new task in life as a head coach, and I’m also grateful to still be a part of the Genesis Prep family,” Haas said.

Haas, 28, replaces Debbie Holte, who went 26-17 in her two seasons as coach. Last season, Holte guided the Jaguars to a third-place finish at state in the program’s first trip to state.

Haas played one season of baseball at Community Colleges of Spokane, before a shoulder injury sidelined him. He then played two years of basketball at North Idaho College.

Buck, the former Mindy Meyer, played volleyball, basketball and ran track at Lakeland High, graduating in 2005. She played volleyball at NAIA Lewis-Clark State College. Starting her freshman year in college, Buck has coached volleyball for seven years at the club level.

“I’ve been wanting to coach again for the past few years but I’ve been too busy traveling for work,” she said. “When I was contacted this spring it seemed like the right timing, and Genesis Prep is the right fit.

“I have always loved sports and am excited for the opportunity to get back in the gym.”

Buck replaces Angie Hill, who coached the past two seasons.