Roos steps down as SHS volleyball head coach

SANDPOINT — Citing a desire to be more involved with her family, Erin Roos stepped down last week as volleyball coach at Sandpoint after a successful four year run.

Roos, a former Bulldog who went on to play four years as a setter at the University of Michigan in the Big 10, compiled a 67-69 record and took two teams to state during her tenure.

Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles announced Roos’s resignation last week, and will now go about finding her replacement soon.

“We are very thankful for the time and effort Erin put into Sandpoint volleyball over the last four years. She stated it was time for her to spend more time with her family and enjoy watching her kids participate in activities,” said Knowles. “We will open the job in the next couple weeks and hope to attract some quality candidates. The history and legacy of the volleyball program should be attractive for quality coaches.”

Roos, who played at Sandpoint under former Notre Dame and Stanford volleyball coach Art Lambert, had coached club volleyball in her hometown since 1998 before taking her first high school job at Sandpoint more than 20 years later.

She admitted that coaching volleyball today requires a year-round commitment of time and energy, and coupled with raising a family was too much at this point in her life.

“Coaching requires a year round commitment of time and energy. It was a hard decision because I really enjoy coaching the girls. However, with three active boys (16, 13 and 9), I would like to be more available to them,” she said, recalling some of the highlights. “I really enjoyed our team bonding adventures; hikes, dinners, laser tag, yoga up on top of Roman Nose mountain and jumping into the ice cold upper lake. Beating Coeur d’Alene at home was pretty sweet too.”

Roos had a tough but fun coaching style, which included vigorous morning beach workouts and a jog back to the high school during two-a-day practices, and lots of unique team building exercises.

A Sandpoint native, she said it was an honor to lead these young women, and she hopes to be cheering from the stands as the Bulldogs will boast a dangerous team next season with five potential returning starters.

“I’ll miss representing my alma mater and the relationships with my players. I’ll miss the satisfaction of helping someone work hard, improve and finally get it,” said Roos. “I’ll miss the challenge of taking a group of individuals and trying to guide them to work together as a team.”