Coupeville Sports

Elizabeth Bitting, seen here with Brynn Parker, is taking the reigns of the CHS cross country program. (Corinn Parker photo)

New coaches as far as the eye can see.

While it’s been almost a full year since a Coupeville High School or Middle School team has competed during the Age of Coronavirus, behind-the-scenes preparations continue.

CHS/CMS Athletic Director Willie Smith has five new coaches lined up, but the actual hires are waiting on two things — a return to play, and the approval of the school board.

Topping the list is Elizabeth Bitting, who is moving from coaching middle school track to running the high school program. At least for a year.

“With no middle school athletics at this point, other than a possible track season, Elizabeth agreed to do the high school cross country team this year,” Smith said.

“We’ll evaluate at the end of the year what level she will coach next year.”

The extremely-popular Bitting, who worked with runners from both schools during the open coaching period, replaces Luke Samford, who moved out of state.

Other new coaches waiting to officially start their duties include Will Thayer, Robert Wood, Cris Matochi, and Ashley Menges.

Thayer, who was originally hired to coach JV softball last spring, only to see COVID cancel the season before it began, replaces Chris Smith as CHS head baseball coach.

Smith moved off-Island after the graduation of his youngest child.

Wood, who previously worked as an assistant coach, steps into the lead role with the CHS boys soccer program.

Kyle Nelson previously coached both boys and girls soccer, but with Coupeville’s move from 1A to 2B, both teams now play in the same season, and he chose to step away from one program.

Matochi will coach middle school volleyball, while Menges, whose unofficial hire had been previously announced, follows Chris Smith as the JV volleyball coach for the CHS spiker program.

With the proposed hirings, the lone position still open on the school district’s web site is for a CHS boys basketball JV coach — which was also previously filled by Chris Smith.