MARK NELKE
Mark Nelke covers high school and North Idaho College sports, University of Idaho football and other local/regional sports as a writer, photographer, paginator and editor at the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has been at The Press since 1998 and sports editor since 2002. Before that, Mark was the one-man sports staff for 16 years at the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint. Earlier, he was sports editor for student newspapers at Spokane Falls Community College and Eastern Washington University. Mark enjoys the NCAA men's basketball tournament and wiener dogs — and not necessarily in that order.
Recent Stories
Staben: 'Right decision' for Idaho to return to FCS
In dropping from FBS, Vandal football seeks ‘stability’ of Big Sky
Two decades of the University of Idaho struggling to gain a foothold at the highest level of college football essentially came to an end on Thursday.
Vandals reportedly headed back to Sky
Idaho expected to move FBS football program down to FCS in 2018, rejoin Big Sky
With multiple news outlets reporting Idaho is moving its football program back to the Big Sky, the University of Idaho has scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. today in Moscow to make an announcement “regarding UI’s football conference affiliation.”
'We're explosive'
Vandals display offensive firepower in spring game
MOSCOW — Sure, it was the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 2 defense, but still, 10 touchdowns in 11 possessions is not too shabby.
Bennett named interim Post Falls football coach
Hinz to scale back coaching duties, hopes to return as head coach
As he continues his battle with cancer, Post Falls High football coach Jeff Hinz has decided to step back from his head coaching duties.
Ex-Coeur d'Alene High football coach dies
Herb Criner hasn’t coached football in North Idaho in more than 30 years.
Linehan to miss spring practice
Vandal QB has foot in a boot; Idaho slated to begin spring drills Thursday
A foot injury from last fall will sideline Idaho starting quarterback Matt Linehan when spring practice begins Thursday, Vandals coach Paul Petrino said Tuesday.
Brooks rallies top-seed Oregon past St. Joseph's
SPOKANE — It was more of a fistfight than the free-flowing game they’re used to playing, but the Oregon Ducks are headed back to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.
Maryland run foils Hawaii's upset bid
SPOKANE — Late in the game with the outcome decided, Hawaii junior forward Stefan Jankovic went up for a shot in traffic near the hoop.
NCAA TOURNAMENT Saint Joseph's by a fingertip
SPOKANE — Friday night’s final NCAA tournament first-round game at the Spokane Arena was decided by fingertips and milliseconds.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Holy Quack attack!
Top-seeded Oregon destroys upstart Holy Cross
Top-seeded Oregon destroys upstart Holy Cross
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Maryland weathers late-game anxiety to fend off South Dakota State
SPOKANE — For some 36 minutes, fifth-seeded Maryland looked like it was going to avoid the fate of two other 5 seeds so far in this NCAA tournament.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: Hawaii notches first NCAA win
Rainbow Warriors upend shorthanded, troubled Cal
SPOKANE — Hawaii sure won’t forget this first.
NCAA TOURNAMENT: An 'academic opportunity'
Local fans find ways to attend open practices for NCAA teams at Arena
SPOKANE — One of them called in sick.
STATE 1A DIVISION II THIRD-PLACE GAME: Setting the bar high
Genesis Prep third at state in first season as IHSAA-sanctioned program
CALDWELL — They hugged and they posed for pictures, and they prayed in front of their fans.
STATE 1A DIVISION II SEMIFINALS: Cold at the wrong time
Genesis Prep struggles in final three quarters on offense, falls in semifinal game
CALDWELL — In their first appearance at this level of high school basketball play in Idaho, the Genesis Prep Jaguars picked an inopportune time to go dead in the water offensively.
STATE 2A SEMIFINALS: Shell-shocked
St. Maries suffocated by defense of two-time defending champion Firth in semis
BOISE — Bryant Asbury displayed a little emotion after his 3-point basket capped a run of five straight points by St. Maries.
STATE 2A BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Rugged revenge
Sieler, St. Maries come up big in first-round win over Soda Springs
BOISE — After a loss to Soda Springs in the state semifinals last year, the St. Maries Lumberjacks were plenty motivated for the rematch Thursday afternoon.
STATE 4A BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Trouble keeping up
Lakeland falters in second half of first-round loss
BOISE — For a team few expected to return to state, the Lakeland Hawks were right in the game, early in the third quarter of their state 4A boys basketball first-round matchup Thursday vs. the Burley Bobcats.
STATE BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS: Hawks flying south with limited experience
4A
Idaho getting the boot from Sun Belt
Vandals mull options — as an FBS independent, or return to Big Sky — when Sun Belt ride ends after 2017 football season
The University of Idaho’s two-decades-long foray into Division I football could be coming to an end.
PREP FOOTBALL: Bryce Erickson named Lake City football coach
Son of former Idaho coach Dennis Erickson only the second head man in T-Wolf history
5A REGION 1 BOYS BASKETBALL: Big game Trojans
McCullough pours in 36 as Post Falls beats Coeur d’Alene, earns spot in state play-in game
3A DISTRICT 1 BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Wildcats reload, repeat as champs
COEUR d’ALENE — They don’t rebuild in Kellogg these days — they reload.
4A REGION 1 BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Unlikely return
Lakeland, with just one player back from last year’s varsity rotation, headed back to state
COEUR d’ALENE — Lakeland High boys basketball Dave Stockwell couldn’t help but chuckle at the question.
5A REGION 1 BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Shot down from outside
3-pointers, offensive rebounds sink Coeur d’Alene in loss to Lewiston
LEWISTON — Punished inside by the taller Lewiston Bengals in the first meeting this season, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings decided to force the Bengals to do something different to beat them Tuesday night.
Wildcats hold off Timberlake
Tigers unable to finish off Kellogg in first round
COEUR d’ALENE — For the second time in less than a week, the Timberlake Tigers held a third-quarter lead against the fourth-ranked team in the state 3A media poll.
THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Sunday, February 21, 2016
The tangled web of state girls basketball
Unable to make it down to the Boise area this weekend — it wasn’t my turn — I surrounded myself with technology and tried to catch a glimpse of what I could from the state high school girls basketball tournaments.
5A REGION 1 BOYS BASKETBALL: Bronson's game-winner helps Cd'A topple Post Falls
Vikings to play at Lewiston for regional title
COEUR d’ALENE — Bryce Bronson might not have been the No. 1 option on the play, but when he found himself at the top of the key, with the ball in his hands, the game tied and the final seconds ticking away, he figured he’d better do something.
STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS: More than a few to keep an eye on
When Timberlake High girls basketball coach Matt Miller goes to his bench, there isn’t time for the P.A. announcer to ID everyone coming in.
Timberlake rolls on to title game
3A District 1 girls basketball tournament
COEUR d’ALENE — They’re not there yet — there’s that matter of a district title game on Wednesday — but the Timberlake Tigers will have at least one fan from their league if and when they head down to the state tournament next week.
Lakeland falls to Moscow
Hawks clamps down, but cold shooting does them in
COEUR d’ALENE — The defensive strategy seemed to work pretty well for a while for the Lakeland High girls basketball team Monday night.
Petrino's son signs with Vandals
High school recruits make up most of Idaho’s class of 18
Idaho football coach Paul Petrino didn’t have to look far for one member of his 2016 signing class.
5A IEL BOYS BASKETBALL: Big win in rematch for Vikings
Naccarato scores 31; Kofmehl, Lynn key second-half defensive surge
COEUR d’ALENE — In a rematch of a game where the Lewiston Bengals’ bigs prevailed a little over a week ago, it was Joey Naccarato of the Coeur d’Alene Vikings that came up huge with 31 points Tuesday night.
TERHARK CUP: Viks cradle another win
Coeur d’Alene romps past Lake City for 14th straight victory in city schools’ annual dual
COEUR d’ALENE — Whatever momentum Lake City High appeared to be generating early in the TerHark Cup evaporated in a hurry Friday night.
FIGHT FOR THE FISH: Bounceback night
Naccarato paces Coeur d’Alene boys, Carlson sparks Lake City girls in annual spirit basketball games
COEUR d’ALENE — It was a bit of a bounceback night for the Coeur d’Alene High boys and the Lake City girls, and a breakout night for Joey Naccarato of the Vikings and Nina Carlson of the Timberwolves in the 18th annual Fight for the Fish spirit basketball games Friday night at Coeur d’Alene High’s Elmer Jordan Court.
Steve Anthony: He served Coeur d'Alene well for four decades
Paula Austin is Recreation Superintendent and has worked for the city of Coeur d’Alene Parks and Cemetery or Recreation division for 33 years, and for Steve Anthony and the recreation department for 26 of those years.
His work is done
Troxel, who started Lake City High football program in 1994, resigns after 22 seasons
COEUR d’ALENE — It was two summers ago when the moment first hit him.
BATTLE FOR THE PRAIRIE PIG: Post Falls speeds to wins
RATHDRUM — It took four seconds for the Post Falls Trojans boys basketball team to score its first basket Friday night vs. the Lakeland Hawks.
VANDAL NOTES: Focus on other coach this time
Early in the season, there were rumblings about Paul Petrino’s future as Idaho football coach.
A reason for thanks, two years later
Hinz thankful for support from everyone as he continues his battle with cancer
They wanted to honor Jeff Hinz as coach of the year in 5A Inland Empire League football, but he would have none of it.
VANDAL NOTES: Hoping to send the seniors out with a win
Idaho (3-8, 2-5 Sun Belt) will say goodbye to 13 seniors on Saturday in its regular season finale Saturday vs. Texas State (3-7, 2-4) at the Kibbie Dome.
VANDAL FOOTBALL: More than 1 million reasons to play
Aside from fulfulling the obligations necessary to collect the $1 million payout check from Auburn, there’s another reason for the Vandals to make a third trip to the state of Alabama this season.
VANDAL NOTES: Petrino apologizes to New Mexico State, QB
Idaho football coach Paul Petrino started off this week’s media obligations by apologizing to New Mexico State and Aggies quarterback Andrew Allen.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Season tips off tonight
The Idaho high school girls basketball season tips off tonight, though most area teams don’t begin until next week.
VANDAL NOTES: Vandals Watson, Cowan catching on
Call Deon Watson and Trent Cowan whatever you want — wide receivers, tight ends, a little of both …
STATE 5A FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS: Madden-ing loss
COEUR d’ALENE — The quick passes the Coeur d’Alene Vikings often spring for big plays were held to short gains — and sometimes short losses — by the Madison Bobcats on Friday night.
Vandals look to bounce back
The University of Idaho football team (3-5, 2-3 Sun Belt Conference) looks to put last week’s second-half collapse behind when the Vandals play today at South Alabama (3-4, 1-2) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
VANDAL NOTES: Painful teaching moment for Vandals
They say experience is the best teacher.
STATE 3A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT: Timberlake out in 2
COEUR d’ALENE — Slow starts, too many errors and some tougher competition than they’ve faced in a while added up to a quick exit for Timberlake High volleyball team at the state 3A volleyball tournament at Lake City High.
Vandals starting to believe
Their first road win since 2011.