'It's time to move on'

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — When Sandpoint native Duane Ward first started coaching high school sports at his alma mater in 1966, the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations was blaring from car speakers, the first episode of “Star Trek” aired on television in actual color, the late Roberto Clemente was an MVP outfielder for the Pirates and gas cost a whopping 32 cents per gallon.

For the better part of the past half century, Ward has been drawing up plays and coaching scores of local youth, including his own kids and grandkids.

Ward, 74, tendered his resignation as the Sandpoint girls basketball head coach recently, handing over the reins of a thriving program to assistant coach Will Love. Put simply, the time was right to call it a coaching career.

“You get to be my age, you need to spend more time with your family. There’s other priorities, it’s time to move on,” claimed Ward, who was happy to see Love get his job. “Will has helped me keep up on the game, a tremendous assistant, we were like co-coaches. I don’t think there’s a better coach out there for Sandpoint High School.”

Coaching Roots

Born and raised in Sandpoint, Ward participated in football, basketball and track, graduating in 1961 before going on to play three years of college hoops at Lewis-Clark State College.

He returned home to Sandpoint shortly thereafter, where he and wife Marilyn set about raising a family. He started coaching as an assistant in football, basketball and track at SHS in 1966, eventually serving two tenures as the boys basketball head coach from 1968-69 and 1983-90.

He ended up teaching English and P.E. at SHS for more than 20 years, including a five-year stint as athletic director, eventually becoming the Bulldog girls head coach from 1995-98 before retiring from teaching in 1999. After that he coached basketball at Sandpoint Middle School, before returning to lead the SHS varsity for the past four years, each of which ended with a trip to state.

Top line résumé items include a runner up state finish in 5A in 1996, and a pair of recent third place finishes at a school where hoop success has been hard to come by. He also helped build the current SMS wrestling room, and brought baseball to SHS in the 1980s during his tenure as athletic director.

“Sports at Sandpoint High School has really shaped me as a person and what I think is important in life,” admitted Ward. “Sports probably sent me in the right direction. I’ve been fortunate to coach with a lot of different coaches in different sports, and it shaped my philosophy.”

Three generations of Bulldogs

Ward started at quarterback as a senior in 1960 for coach Cotton Barlow, leading the Bulldogs to an undefeated record. Like many from these parts, the Sandpoint coaching legend had a big impact on Ward, no doubt shaping his coaching style.

“He always made you believe that you could do anything, you could win every game you played, that you could play against anybody,” remembered Ward of Barlow. “He gave you that confidence, motivated his players, made them believe they could be successful.”

Ward had the pleasure of coaching his daughter Natalie, who started on the 1996 team that finished second at state, sons Jeff and Paul, and most recently granddaughters Taylor Ward and Hattie Larson. He also coached three Division 1 basketball players in Alli Nieman (Idaho), Madi Schoening (Montana) and Grace Kirscher (Eastern Washington).

He said the best male athlete he’s ever coached was Chris Clark in 1968, before Clark went on to play basketball in college at the University of Idaho. When asked for the best female player he ever coached, Ward said he couldn’t pick between Nieman, Schoening or Kirscher, saying it was hard to compare the three.

“It’s real easy working with the kids, trying to make it fun for them, trying to make a positive impact on them. Hopefully they learn things that will help them,” said Ward, who was asked what sticks out most in his career. “How excited I was to come back to Sandpoint and start coaching. Being able to work all those years with these kids, and to coach my kids and grandkids.”

Fond farewell

Last year was tough for Ward, forced to manage the rigors of coaching while still being there for his wife Marilyn, who was battling cancer.

The sidelines offered a brief respite from a tough situation, but also some inspiration, as the pair celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with some post-game cupcakes at Les Rogers Court. Ward was blown away by the support he received from both his team and the community.

“How supportive and fun these kids and parents have been,” answered Ward on the best part of his final season. “The support they gave my wife with her bout with cancer, the work that Will Love did, that will always stick out in my mind.”

As will decades of coaching memories with his newfound time to reflect. Asked what memory sticks out most from coaching, Ward conceded it was the 1996 state title game, which the Bulldogs lost in overtime to Centennial after having knocked of previously unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Borah earlier in the bracket.

Winning state titles is difficult, and despite the fact his squad fell just short, that game and that team will always hold a special place in his heart.

“Just the effort those kids made,” recalled Ward. “That was undoubtedly the best basketball team I’ve ever coached. They all played their roles so well.”

To last more than half a century doing anything, let alone coaching high school sports, requires both the ability to change with the times and to relate well with people.

Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles said Ward excelled on both fronts, calling him a basketball junkie and highly-respected coach around the state.

“In my 20 years, I don’t know if I’ve met a nicer coach. Such a nice person, a gentleman,” lauded Knowles.

“He can get the best out of kids. Very adaptable, he’s doing things now that you didn’t do in the 70s.”