Former T-Wolf star Darretta enjoying life as Cd'A coach

In 2001, Bobbi Darretta was the ace pitcher as Lake City High won the state 5A softball championship.

Her coach was Darren Taylor, who ran the Timberwolves program for six seasons (1999-2004).

Nearly two decades later, Darretta is back in town, as the first-year head softball coach at Coeur d’Alene High, which along with Lake City was one of the teams to beat at state when Darretta was playing.

And her assistant coach ...

Darren Taylor.

“I never would have guessed I’d come back, and have my high school coach be my assistant coach, and we’re both at Coeur d’Alene High School together,” Darretta said with a laugh.

“She was just very competitive then,” Taylor recalled of coaching Darretta at Lake City. “I didn’t see any coaching inclinations at that time, but you never know. She’s very smart. She knew the game as well as anybody. And she just has that extra sense that makes great players.”

AFTER HIGH school, Darretta played one season of softball at Walla Walla Community College, and one season at the University of Kentucky.

She eventually landed in Boise, where she worked as a personal trainer as she completed her schooling at Boise State — earning a bachelor’s in communications and a bachelor’s in Spanish.

She also was an assistant softball coach at Timberline High in Boise for a couple of years, as well as a private pitching coach in the Boise area.

After seven years in Boise, family reasons brought her back about a year ago to the Lake City — but not to Lake City.

When Darretta heard the softball job at Coeur d’Alene was open, she was interested in applying. When Taylor — a Coeur d’Alene High grad who was the Vikings’ head softball coach for two seasons (2016 and ’17) found out, he called his former player, offering his help if she needed an assistant coach.

“I was thrilled,” Darretta said. “It was automatic. The moment he called I said ‘Absolutely, let’s do it.’ So we basically went after the job together, as a team.”

Though Taylor has more than three decades of head coaching experience, Darretta calls the shots here. Taylor throws batting practice, hits the fungoes and works with the hitters (he runs a hitting school). Darretta works with the pitchers, obviously, and runs the game, incorporating parts of what she learned playing in high school and college.

“She’ll ask, but she’s one of those people that will get stuff done,” Taylor said.

Darretta said it works because “we get along so well, and we view the game the exact same way. He’s like an old friend, is the way I see it. He’s definitely more of an adviser to me, making sure I’m successful in all parts of coaching.

“He has been wonderful. I’m definitely blessed with the No. 1 assistant coach in the state,” she said.

“I’m enjoying it; I like seeing the progression (of Darretta),” Taylor said of his role as assistant coach/adviser. “You can sit back and laugh a little bit, because she’s figuring out how hard it is to be a head coach. You can just see the frustration at certain points ... all those little things you have to do as a coach.”

THINGS HAVE changed since Darretta last was involved in high school softball in North Idaho, nearly two decades ago.

Post Falls High has grown, and is now in the same classification as Coeur d’Alene and Lake City.

Back then, Coeur d’Alene High was loaded with players who came through the travel-ball system.

This year, Coeur d’Alene does not have enough players to field a junior varsity team — for the second straight year.

Darretta said her goal is to “bring more girls into the program, and get it thriving again.”

Taylor said she has the charisma to make that happen.

She hears a number of freshmen softball players are coming in next year, so the JV team could return.

This year’s turnout of 15 players, at least, is two more than the Vikings had last year. And despite the lack of numbers, and the lack of recent success in the program — Coeur d’Alene has missed qualifying for state the past two seasons, after only missing out twice before that, since Idaho switched to fastpitch in 1995 — Darretta is optimistic.

“I’ve got an excellent group of girls, so I’m just excited, and ready to get out there and get started — once this snow melts,” she said during preseason practices a few weeks ago.

“It’s a good occupation for her now,” Taylor said of coaching. “She’s going to be really good.”

If she needs advice on returning to the ol’ alma mater as a visitor, she need only look a couple miles away — the Lake City softball coach (Jesse Lenz) graduated from Coeur d’Alene High.

Darretta played softball with Jesse’s cousin, Kari, for several years growing up.

Coeur d’Alene is scheduled to play a doubleheader at Lake City on April 12.

“I think it’s going to be a little weird, going on the Lake City field the first time,” Darretta said. “But to be honest, I’m really enjoying the Vikings.”

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.