THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Years later, Noël right at home with NIC

The year is a little fuzzy for Shawn Noël, but his first impression of Coeur d’Alene was always something that stuck in the back of his mind.

“It was either 2012 or 2013,” Noel said. “The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) hosted a conference in Coeur d’Alene, and that was the first time I came to the area. I was telling my girlfriend at the time, and wife (Brenda) now, that this was a great place, with a great community and it always stuck in the back of my head.”

Earlier this fall, Noël was named athletic director at North Idaho College, with his first official day in office on Dec. 6, 2021. Noel replaces Bobby Lee, who stepped down after a 1½ years to take the same role at Mt. Spokane High in Mead.

“I was really fortunate to be offered the position,” Noel said. “I knew before coming here that NIC had a great tradition in their athletics, with great coaches and athletes. It was just a combination of everything really that appealed to me.”

Noël served as Director of Athletics and Recreation at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey from 2012 to 2018; as Director of Athletics, Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex and Physical Education at Garrett College in Maryland from 2010 to 2012; and as Assistant Director of Athletics at Herkimer County Community College in New York from 2007 to 2010.

Noël, 45, was most recently the athletic director at Union County College in Cranford, N.J.

In addition to his role as athletic director, Noël is also the director of recreation at the school.

“I really enjoy being outdoors,” Noël said. “I didn’t get to do it as much back east, and sometimes where you are, you don’t get a chance to take advantage of the things around you. I really enjoy to get in the outdoors. I’ve got a young family, and I’m excited to have my wife and kids here now. I really like the idea of being able to hike, bike and go swimming, with everything so close by. It’s new and exciting, and we’re excited to be here.”

When it comes to the athletic department, Noël is hoping to keep building on each program’s success.

“I think the most important thing is to make sure the athletes have the best experience possible while they’re here,” Noël said. “It’s something I’ve told the coaches, and the students will remember that experience. We’ve got a great coaching staff here and have coaches that work their butts off and find students that fit what we want to do here.”

That’s both on and off the playing field.

“We’ve got great students in the classroom and on the field,” Noël said. “We just want to continue to build on that and have a great experience and have them become good citizens, wherever they go from here. We want to compete and do the right thing, and I just want to do everything I can to support each of our programs and student-athletes.”

ALREADY IN his story tenure, the Northwest Athletic Conference has pushed back the start of the men’s and women’s basketball season from Jan. 5 to today.

Then, just as NIC was preparing for its men’s and women’s openers against Walla Walla today, those games were canceled after Walla Walla went into a two-week travel ban due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The games will go as forfeits for NIC.

NIC's men and women will now open conference play Monday against Blue Mountain in Pendleton, Ore.

“As of now, we don’t have any official protocols for our fans,” Noël said. “If you feel safe wearing a mask, wear a mask, but they’re not required. We want to be as safe as we can, and will follow conference protocols when needed. But we’re here and would love to have the support of the community. I know COVID has hit us all in different ways, and this season is going to be a little bumpy, whether with us or the teams that we play. But we really want to be as safe as we can.

“I’m really happy to be here and plan on being here for a long time.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.