Van Leirop will return to Ferris

Don Van Leirop will return next year to be the Ferris boys head basketball coach.

Van Lierop was reinstated in a vote by a seven-person panel following a long mediation session Friday. He had been the head coach for three years before his contract was not renewed by the district a little less than a year ago.

“Right now I really feel excited for him and our program,” Ferris principal Erik Ohlund said. “He has certainly embraced our issues and concerns.”

When his contract was not renewed, Van Lierop was replaced by Barry Olson in July.

Last winter, Olson guided the Saxons to a 21-4 record, league and district championships and a berth in the state tournament for the first time in three years.

Van Lierop filed a grievance last summer, and it was determined in October the matter of which man should coach would go to mediation. That matter was resolved Friday.

The seven-member panel included two instructors and two administrators from Ferris, including himself, Ohlund said, as well as another Spokane Public Schools high school principal and two people from the community.

They took input from current Saxons basketball players in all four grades and from a group of parents that outlined the qualities they wanted in a coach, Ohlund said.

After more than three hours of interviews and discussion it went to a secret ballot, which was tabulated at the district office.

“Obviously, we had two great candidates,” said Ohlund. “I would say this: I think the insights Don brought to the possibility of his coaching again really reflected how (he could do it) better than in the past.”

Van Lierop, when contacted, said during his time away he had a chance to reflect on a plan to make some changes in his coaching approach.

“I’m just grateful to be head coach again at Ferris,” he said. “I’m thankful for the support from my friends and colleagues and am looking forward to working with a great bunch of players.”

Olson was gracious when asked about the outcome and said he was unsure of his future, but there was disappointment in his voice.

“Coaching is my passion,” he said. “I think I’m pretty good at it and did a decent job.”