Hoops coach hired

REARDAN - Former Wellpinit athlete Jake Green was hired as the Screaming Eagles' new head boys basketball coach Thursday, June 1.

He replaces Brian Graham, who resigned March 28.

Green was a two-time all-conference basketball player at Wellpinit High School, graduating in 2007.

The following two years, he played at Peninsula College in Port Angeles.

"I am proud to be a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and to be one of the first athletes from Wellpinit to play sports at the college level," Green said.

Green returned to Wellpinit and coached the basketball team in 2013-2014 and again in 2018-2020. During his first stint as head coach, the Redskins won their district championship and competed in the state basketball tournament.

This past season he coached the Reardan Middle School boys' basketball team.

"I have inherited a great group of guys," Green said. "I will coach sound fundamentals and expect we will play a fast, disciplined style of basketball that concentrates on playing solid defense."

Green emphasized that each member of the team will earn playing time through hard work in practice.

"I expect we will have success on the court, but everything our staff does will hopefully prepare them for life," Green said. "We will have been a success if our players turn out to be great husbands, fathers and citizens."

He stressed the importance of transparency with school administration, players and parents.

"Our practices will be open," he said. "Anyone can come to see what we're teaching and what we're doing."

Green admitted that when he played at Wellpinit he did not have sound fundamentals, so had to rely on his natural raw talent. He credits his college coaches for teaching him basketball fundamentals and life lessons.

He intends to do the same thing in Reardan.

"Besides being hard workers, my players will be good teammates with good attitudes," he said. "They will respect their opponents and the referees."

"Like coach Graham, I want to help the kids to become the best players they can and to serve the community."

Green and his wife Alaina have two children who attend school in Reardan.

Daughter Rylynn is in eighth-grade and son Carmelo is in seventh. They also have a two-year-old son named Kodi.