Board Splits Decisions On Coaching Recommendations
The Wolf Point School Board approved one recommendation from a committee to hire a new head basketball coach but rejected another during a meeting on Monday, June 8.
After the positions were opened by trustees during an April meeting, a five-person community committee was formed. The committee conducted interviews and provided its recommendation of Bif Loucks for head girls’ basketball coach and Frank Benson for head boys’ basketball coach. Coaches for the last season were Cody Larson for girls’ basketball and Cole Hanks for boys’ basketball.
When the time came for a vote on the committee’s recommendations, trustee Michael Holen made a motion to hire Loucks. The motion was seconded by Pryce Paulson and approved unanimously.
Trustee Michael Turcotte then made a motion to hire Benson as boys’ basketball coach. Benson’s career included serving as the school district’s girls’ basketball coach in past years. The motion died due to a lack of a second.
The boys’ basketball coaching position will continue to be advertised.
In addition, trustees unanimously approved Jaki Harada as the new head volleyball coach.
Prior to the voting, public comment was heard regarding the coaching positions.
LaToya Holen said that in order to build a program, a person needs to be here longer than a year or two. She added that trustees should consider if a person has been in many different places and is applying at different places.
Imogene Lilly questioned why her husband, Perry, didn’t receive an interview for a coaching position.
“If you’re going to open it up, open it up,” she said.
She feels that Wolf Point needs coaches to raise student athletes to the next level.
Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins explained that the committee screened the applicants to be interviewed. In this case, the school wasn’t involved in that decision.
Board chair Roxanne Gourneau said trustees opened up the positions with the hope of seeing a large amount of applicants. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get the turnout that we thought,” she said.
Gourneau added that people from other schools say that Wolf Point has great athletic talent here.
Wolf Point High School Principal Kim Hanks said that Gourneau talked about not wanting to lowering standards, but Hanks feels that the school district was lowering its standards with the coaching decisions.
Hanks said that board members talk about supporting the committee’s recommendation, but the board didn’t support the administration’s recommendation for head basketball coaches in April.
