The circle of life in the IML

Seems kinda weird.

Two former Bonners Ferry High standouts, now coaching at Kellogg, where one of the Wildcats’ Intermountain League rivals is ... Bonners Ferry.

Turns out it’s not so weird after all.

JEFF NEARING, who graduated from Bonners Ferry High in 1991, is in his second season as boys basketball coach at Kellogg.

One of his sisters, Jana (Nearing) Kothe, recently completed her first season as Kellogg girls basketball coach.

Jeff Nearing moved back to Kellogg in 1995. Jana has been back in the Silver Valley for the past 5-6 years.

“My family is originally from Kellogg,” Jeff explained. “My dad graduated from Kellogg, and we ended up in Bonners when I was a kid, kinda where I was raised. Naturally, the family kinda migrated back. My wife’s from Kellogg.”

Before he became head coach, Jeff Nearing was assistant coach af Kellogg for six seasons under Jeff Lambert.

“He finally got burned out enough, he handed me the whistle after the state tournament and said, ‘We need to reverse the roles here,’” Nearing said.

Lambert is now Nearing’s assistant.

“I can’t express enough how much help that guy is,” Nearing said.

Growing up in Bonners, Nearing had a basketball coach named Bill LaRue who had a big impact on his basketball, and eventually, his coaching career.

“And to this day, he’s one of my closest friends,” Nearing said. “Learned a lot from him. I remember when I got the inkling that I wanted to start my son (Grant) in an AAU program, with all the things that I experienced as a kid growing up, and all the opportunities afforded to me, I called him for some advice. His advice was, ‘Pick kids. You can pick a ballplayer out of anybody, but go pick 8, 9, 10 kids that you know are good kids, and are going to work for you, and have fun with it and enjoy it.’ It’s gone by pretty quick.”

KELLOGG’S BOYS (17-3), coming off another Intermountain League and 3A District 1 title, are headed to state this week in Meridian for the fifth straight year, and sixth time in seven seasons. This might be the Wildcats’ best chance for a state title during that run.

“We’ve thought that before,” Nearing cautioned. “We’ve gone down as the No. 1 team in the state, and come home with our tail between our legs.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.