Prep coaching carousel: Gabe Medrano named Lewis and Clark girls basketball coach

Gabe Medrano said he never lost the itch to coach.

He is returning as a head coach in Greater Spokane League girls basketball next year.

Medrano, who coached North Central for five years, has been named head coach at Lewis and Clark.

He replaces Rick Meddock, who served as interim coach when first-year coach Chad Kimberley resigned abruptly halfway through the season last year. LC finished the year 9-4 under Meddock, a retired teacher and former East Valley boys coach.

NC’s athletic director the last two years, Medrano assisted Indians coach Jake Martin last year.

“It really just came down to the fact I still have coaching in me,” said Medrano, who also will be a teacher at LC. “I got the bug back helping Jake last year.”

Medrano takes over a tradition-rich program. Former coach Jim Redmon, now LC’s boys coach, led the Tigers to State 4A titles in 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2010-11.

“You look at girls basketball and there are four places in the league that are the top spots – Mead, Central Valley, Gonzaga Prep and LC,” Medrano said. “The juices are back. I’m ready to get after it.”

NC was 39-74 under Medrano. He coached the Indians to their first state tournament appearance in 2011 when they took third and finished 19-9.

Medrano takes over a team that included just two seniors and seven sophomores. The Tigers finished fourth in the GSL and 14-10 overall.

“A lot of times there were a lot of underclassmen on the floor at the same time,” Medrano said.

Jay Kennedy has been named University’s girls basketball coach.

Kennedy takes over for Mark Stinson, who retired after 18 seasons.

Kennedy is known in the area as a radio personality on the Jay and Kevin Show on Coyote Country 99.9 FM.

He has no head coaching experience but has coached various age levels of AAU boys and girls basketball the last 15 years.

“Coach Stinson and his staff have done an amazing job building an incredible foundation that we hope to build on and take to an even higher level,” Kennedy said.

Lake City has filled vacancies for head girls basketball and volleyball.

James Anderson, a head boys basketball coach for two years at Kittitas and an assistant the last seven years at Lake City, takes over the girls basketball job. He replaces Bryan Kelly, who resigned to be an assistant principal.

“He’s got a lot of good qualities,” LC athletic director Jim Winger said. “He’s an extremely hard worker and excellent educator. He’ll be a big loss to the boys program and a great fit for the girls job.”

Mike Summers, who resigned as head volleyball coach at U-Hi, takes over at Lake City.

Summers, who took U-Hi to state three out of four years, teaches in Spokane but lives in Post Falls. The job at LC best fits his schedule, Winger said.

“We feel very fortunate to get Mike,” Winger said. “He’s a veteran coach who has had a lot of success. His accomplishments at U-Hi speak for themselves.”

Summers replaces Jenna Leggat, who coached LC to a regional title and state berth but resigned after one season to spend more time with a young family and growing business.

Summers will be the fourth coach in four years.

Shadle Park found its next boys basketball coach in West Virginia.

Elijah Gurash replaces Tim Gaebe, who retired. Gurash has been the head boys coach at Buckhannon-Upshur High in Buckhannon, West Virginia, the past six years. He coached the school to its best record, 9-13, in 20 years last season.

Gurash said Buckhannon, located in rural central West Virginia, is one of the smallest schools in the state’s largest classification. The school’s enrollment is similar to Shadle.

“I’m aware of Shadle Park having a strong basketball history,” said Gurash, who took a break from packing boxes for the move after Memorial Day weekend. “I’m excited to be somewhere like that in a great conference. It’s a very appealing place from all of my interactions and people I’ve spoken with.”

Shadle Park will be Gurash’s third head coaching job.

A 6-foot-6 shooting guard in college, Gurash finished his collegiate career at Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon, where he met his eventual wife, Katy, who is from Chewelah.

Gurash inherits a program that graduates five starters.

“He knows the game and knows how to work with people,” Shadle athletic director Bruce Hafferkamp said. “He’s been involved with transitions with other programs. I’m confident there will be a good transition for all involved.”

Matt Pancheri has been named Lewiston’s head football coach.

An assistant the past two years at Madison High in Rexburg, Idaho, and six years at Bonneville High in his native Idaho Falls, Pancheri takes over for Shawn Nilsson, who stepped down after five years. It will be his first head coaching job.