Kistler in line for job as Mt. Spokane coach

Mt. Spokane High’s search committee is recommending assistant Juli Kistler be hired to replace Jeanne Helfer as the Wildcats’ girls basketball coach, according to principal John Hook.

The hiring is subject to the approval of the Mead School Board.

Kistler, who has never been a head coach, spent four years as an assistant at Lewis and Clark High before moving to Mt. Spokane last season.

“I’m really excited, looking forward to it,” Kistler said. “You know, I’ve been an assistant for how many years now, I’m ready to take that next step. Fortunately, we have a good group of kids up here, a good school and a good administration. I’m just looking forward to getting going.”

Kistler, who teaches technology classes at Mt. Spokane, played three years of volleyball and three years of basketball at Eastern Washington University as Juli Carlson after graduating from Odessa High.

After walking on in basketball as a junior, she improved enough to earn All-Big Sky honorable mention honors as a senior.

She spent a year as an assistant coach in Iowa before returning to Washington with husband Mike, who still serves as LC’s physical therapist. They have two children, a 6-month-old daughter and a son who is almost 3.

Now she has to replace Helfer, who won three state basketball titles in 14 years at Mead before coaching eight years at Mt. Spokane, compiling a 329-213 record in the two stops.

“It some big shoes to fill,” said Kistler. “This is a great opportunity for me. I’m really excited. Our goal is just to keep the program moving, to build it up. We are going to the 3A (classification) next year, so it’s kind of a transition, it will be new for us. Hopefully, we can get into the playoffs in the future.”