Wolf Point Trustees Re-hire Basketball Coach
After a 4-2 vote by the Wolf Point School Board on Monday, Sept. 14, Cole Hanks is returning as Wolf Point High School’s head boys’ basketball coach.
The decision came after trustees failed to approve a motion to rehire Hanks by a 3-2 margin during a meeting in July. Since that time, a second committee interviewed candidates and recommended Hanks for the position.
Early in the discussion, trustee Michael Turcotte questioned why the recommendation of hiring Hanks was coming up again after trustees voted down the previous motion. Wolf Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins explained that it was the second committee’s recommendation. Perkins said the committee consisted of “basketball people” who are community members.
“You’ve had two committees that came up with the same conclusion,” Perkins said.
Board chair Roxanne Gourneau said, “It was opened up and this is the result.” She noted that Hanks was never taken out of the process. “This applicant remained in the pool.”
Turcotte expressed concerns regarding the applicant’s accountability. The trustee said that everyone needs to have accountability across the board. “When coaches don’t have accountability, it’s a ripple effect.”
School board members also heard public comments during the meeting.
Lawrence Hamilton said that as a parent and fan that he wants to get back on the winning track.
Brenda Calder talked about the positive relationship between Hanks and her grandson. “His accountability should be directed for students, which he does above and beyond,” Calder said of Hanks.
Another audience member said that Hanks has displayed “a great heart” and cares about his players.
Gourneau said the trustees’ decision is not about the coach’s character but based on performance. She said that 99 percent of student athletes would say that they want to win.
Perkins pointed out that the top goal of athletics isn’t to win the most games. “The winning will come if you have the character part of it,” Perkins said. “The winning isn’t the main goal of MHSA. It’s building young men and women. We’re not the NBA.”
Trustee Keith Higgins questioned the emphasis of winning. He asked if trustees are going to say that coaches need to win a certain amount of games in order to get re-hired.
Activities director Cody Larson noted that the committee consisted of individuals with more than 50 years of experience in Wolf Point. As a member of the committee, Larson shared that great discussions took place. “It was a no-brainer choice,” Larson said. “The best candidate is right before you.”
There was discussion that it’s getting late in the game for Wolf Point to hire a coach prior of the season. “We’re running out of time,” Perkins said.
Voting in favor to rehire Hanks were Gourneau, Higgins, Pryce Paulson and Michael Holen. Turcotte and Holly Denny voted against the motion.
