Alsager resigns as girls hoops coach

SANDPOINT - Citing a desire to spend more time with his three young children and the demands of being the regional director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sandpoint girls head basketball coach Jim Alsager resigned this week after three years on the job.

Alsager will continue as head coach of the SHS girls golf team, but the time commitment for a varsity basketball coach, along with everything else, was simply becoming too much.

“I would like to have the time to be a good dad, effective director for FCA, and continue to coach basketball,” he said. “But in the long run it's too much, and each area suffers.”

Alsager's wife Karen also coaches at the high school, and the two love the community and want to continue being a part of it. Alsager has been coaching high school basketball for the last 23 years, but he is now the FCA coordinator for 10 counties in North Idaho, and 13 in Eastern Washington, an endeavor which requires much of his time.

He also said basketball has been cutting into time with his kids, and he didn't want to look back down the road and regret the time he missed due to coaching. The decision was not easy, but he feels it's the right one.

“That daily grind is what I'll miss the most,” said Alsager. “I'll miss being with the players daily, working, watching that process happen over time.”

What he'll probably miss least are the Thanksgivings, Christmases and New Years that used to be dictated by the hoops schedule, as well as the long winter bus rides and heavy travel schedule that come with the job.

Sandpoint athletic director Cheryl Klein said Alsager is a well liked coach, and the school has appreciated his time as the head girls basketball coach.

“He's an exceptional coach and a wonderful person,” she said. “He brought a wealth of coaching experience.”

Klein has opened up the position and will begin the search for a new girls head basketball coach immediately.