CHS cross country coach Luke Samford, seen here with Catherine Lhamon at the state meet, has joined the school’s track and field coaching staff. (Helene Lhamon photo)
Coupeville High School has filled two of its three open coaching positions, at least unofficially.
School Athletic Director Willie Smith confirmed Thursday that he’s hired Will Thayer as the Wolf JV softball coach and Luke Samford as a CHS assistant track coach.
Both men can work with their teams when spring sports practices begin Monday, but neither hire is official until approved by the Coupeville School Board at its next meeting.
Samford now has two gigs at the school, as he is also the head coach of the Wolf cross country program.
A former NCAA D-I athlete, he coached college runners for seven years before a family move brought him to Whidbey Island.
In his first season at the helm of the harriers this fall, he helped a reborn program make great strides, with junior Catherine Lhamon qualifying for state.
Samford’s hire helps to fill a hole left by the partial departure of Lincoln Kelley, whose day job in Oak Harbor will no longer allow him to be a full-time track and field assistant.
Kelley may still help out as a volunteer, however.
Thayer, a 2002 grad of Oak Harbor High School, replaces Greg Thomas, who stepped down after last season.
He joins a Wolf staff which includes head coach Kevin McGranahan and varsity volunteer assistant Ron Wright, and will coach the JV team.
The one current open position is the Wolf JV volleyball coaching gig, after Chris Smith recently stepped down from the position.
Smith continues to hold down two other jobs at the school, as the head varsity baseball coach and assistant boys basketball coach.
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