New CV Assistant Principal Glad To Be Back In Spokane

Although reared in Samoa, Matt Elisara calls Spokane home.

Why became evident to him after taking a job as an assistant principal in the Clover Park School District near Tacoma.

“After we moved over there, we changed our minds and wanted to come back,” the former District 81 administrator said. “We missed what Spokane has to offer. It’s small but had everything we needed to have.”

Elisara got his chance to return when he was chosen to become Central Valley High School’s new assistant principal for activities.

He joined his wife, Cheryl, and two sons, who had returned here long before Elisara was able to.

“My wife resigned her teaching position last November and came back,” he said.

At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Elisara will cut an imposing swath in the CV halls.

Elisara was part of the Samoan connection that came to the mainland from the South Pacific islands to play football at Washington State University.

He followed his cousins, Jack Thompson, Tali Ena and Samoa Samoa to WSU and played defensive nose guard for the Cougars on the 1981 Holiday Bowl team.

There followed a whirlwind tour of professional football. A free agent in Denver, he was the Broncos’ last cut. He briefly visited Canada, but didn’t like it. He was signed by Philadelphia during the strike year of 1982 and never played.

Elisara did play for Oakland of the U.S. Football League, starting two years. An injury coincided with the demise of the league, ending his football aspirations.

“I knew my career was coming to an end,” he said. “I came back to Pullman and asked if there was a job for me. That’s how I got started in education.”

He coached two years in Lewiston, went back to school and was certificated with an eye on coaching football.

“I wanted to be a head football coach,” Elisara said. “I also felt I could make a contribution not only to athletics but to non-athletes by becoming an administrator.”

He taught and coached in Redmond for three years, was hired at Ferris where he helped coach until 1993, then became an assistant principal at Glover and Garry middle schools before taking the Clover Park position.

In replacing retired activities coordinator Jay Rydell, Elisara’s role will be more than athletics.

“I was told that it is an administrative job,” said Elisara. “Activities and athletics is one of many tasks. It’s more holistic and global in its responsibilities. I’ll be wearing more than one hat.”

Included will be classroom staff evaluations and building usage.

Philosophically, Elisara said he wants those involved in sports to be student athletes.

“We all have dreams of being an NFL or NBA player but there are so many unknowns and things you can’t control,” he said. “You can always have an education to fall back on.”

Central Valley, he said, was a school he admired.

“I can’t stress enough how happy I am to be at CV,” Elisara said.

Particularly since it afforded him an opportunity to be back in Spokane.

“Spokane is good for my family and good for me,” he said. “To me, it’s home.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo