After just two seasons at Juanita High School, boys basketball head coach Jeff Patrick has resigned. Patrick cited increased career responsibilities.
“The first season it wasn’t that big of a deal,” said Patrick, who is a district manager for Target Stores. “They have put another district on me and I don’t have the time anymore. The program needs someone who can commit to it. I just didn’t see this coming.”
Juanita High School athletic director Tim Crowder said the news caught the administration off guard.
“We were real surprised,” said Crowder. “We liked what he was doing. It is not the coach’s fault when the ball won’t go in the hole. He was getting the kids to play hard and only one was a year-round player I think.”
Patrick made it official approximately a week after the end of the season.
Patrick was hired prior to the start of the 2008-2009 season and said he left Issaquah High School to coach closer to his home in Bothell.
“I felt good about the team this year,” said Patrick. “There weren’t many other teams that had to deal with what we had to deal with.”
The Rebels lost their starting point guard to an ACL injury prior to the start of the season and then lost another key player to injury weeks later.
“The kids worked their tails off,” said Patrick.
Crowder said that he has already received interest in the position.
“We already have three or four applicants,” said Crowder. “We want to hire a guy with great character. Wins come second.”
The Rebels’ season came to and during the first round of the 3A KingCo playoffs as they lost to Mercer Island, Patrick’s alma-matter.
Under Patrick, the Rebels posted a 6-18 record in league play during his two years as head coach.
Patrick came to Kirkland from Issaquah High School where he won 133 games in 16 seasons. He won multiple coach of the year honors as his teams played in the state tournament four times and reached the state finals once. Patrick was the senior most 3A KingCo basketball coach.
He said that he may get back into coaching in the future.
“I’ve been doing it for 20 years,” said Patrick. “If the economy turns around and things change, yes. But you gotta do what you gotta do.”
