Saturday, April 12, 2008

Edmonds School District coaches quit

In a span of 72 hours, the Edmonds School District lost half of its boys' basketball coaches.

Gail Pintler's resignation Tuesday at Edmonds-Woodway was followed Friday afternoon by Lynnwood's Landon Porter.

"We were really blessed to have (Pintler) for the two years he stepped in," Edmonds School District athletic director Julie Stroncek said.

Hired on an interim basis after the 2005-06 season to replace Rob McMains, Pintler led the school to back-to-back state appearances. He guided senior-laden E-W (21-6, 14-2 Wesco South) to a seventh-place showing this year -- the school's best since it opened in 1990.

"The way we went out, it just feels right to do the second year and be done," said Pintler, who sought counsel from coaching colleagues while on vacation in Arizona last week.
Pintler, a 1962 graduate of Spokane's Central Valley High, led Shorewood to three top-four state finishes in two decades.

Pintler's position was already posted Friday afternoon on the district's Web site. Stroncek said applications will be taken until the position is filled, with a target date of mid to late May.

Porter, who in 2006 led Lynnwood to the school's first state appearance in two decades, is moving to New Mexico to be closer to his family. After losing almost everyone off that team, Porter went 16-30 overall and 10-22 in the Wesco South during the final two seasons of his eight-year stint.

Jan Beglau, director of student support and outreach for the district, will take over Stroncek's position beginning July 1. Stroncek, who has shared the district position with Angie McGuire, will then return to her former position of E-W athletic director. That position is being filled on an interim basis by assistant principal Geoff Bennett.

By Darren Fessenden
Seattle PI

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonder if it has anything to do with a totally unqualified person being the new athletic director?

Anonymous said...

Sue, you are not really going to do this job right? you run thats it!