High school coaching comings and goings
Coeur d’Alene High saw a couple of its veteran fall head coaches step down recently, and a replacement for one has already been named.
Dee Pottenger resigned after seven seasons as the Vikings’ volleyball coach, and Jeff Lake stepped down after eight seasons as boys soccer coach.
Russ Carder, an assistant coach at Mead High in Spokane who has coached club soccer in the Spokane area for a number of years, has been named to replace Lake as boys soccer coach.
Pottenger posted an overall record of 126-75 at CHS, and guided the Vikings to state twice — a runner-up finish in 2014, and a fourth-place finish in ’15. Her 126 wins are second-most in program history. The Vikings were 16-13 last year.
She said she wanted to spend more time with her family, which includes two boys attending Coeur d’Alene High.
“The young ladies in the program are such great girls,” Pottenger said. “I love them dearly, and leaving them is the hardest part. In that regard, I don’t know if there’d ever be a ‘good’ time to step away. Each year is a new, special mix of kids. This returning group is very strong.”
Coeur d’Alene is still conducting interviews for the volleyball position, Coeur d’Alene High athletic director Mike Lindquist said.
Lake went 77-37-17 at CHS, including a state runner-up finish in 2016. The Vikings were 10-5-2 last year, and qualified for state. Lake guided the Vikings to state three times.
“Stepping down was an extremely difficult decision, but I decided now was the perfect time to recharge the batteries and see what other opportunities and adventures lie ahead in my future,” said Lake, who has been in the Viking soccer program for 14 years — as a volunteer assistant, then assistant coach, then head coach.
He said he plans to be back at Coeur d’Alene High next year as a history teacher.
“I would like to thank Eric Louis (the previous Viking head coach), who hired me as his assistant and got me into coaching,” Lake. “I finish my career tied with Eric for second place all-time in wins at CHS. Pretty cool statistic I get to share with my close friend and mentor.”
Players and parents are invited to a meet-and-greet for Carder on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene High, Lindquist said.
TWO NEW softball coaches at 5A IEL schools have also been hired.
Lindsie Scholwinski was named head coach at her alma mater, Coeur d’Alene High. Scholwinski pitched for the Vikings from 2010-13, then went on to star at Community Colleges of Spokane and at NAIA Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla.
Scholwinski replaces Darren Taylor, who resigned after two seasons, including a state runner-up finish in 2016.
At Post Falls, Holly Gleaves was promoted from assistant to head coach of the Trojans. He replaces Brian Stranger, who stepped down after three seasons.
Gleaves, a longtime club softball coach in the area, is the father of Trojan softball player Bailey Gleaves.