Cory Whitmore | Coupeville Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Cory Whitmore’

Lead with love, win with style

Posted in Hall o' Fame, Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Cory Whitmore, Hall of Fame, state tournament, volleyball on July 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Volleyball guru Cory Whitmore plots strategy. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

His run was truly stellar.

When Cory Whitmore took the reins of the Coupeville High School volleyball program in 2016, the varsity had won seven matches across the previous two seasons combined.

In his first go-round in the CHS gym, the Wolves promptly went 11-6, kicking off a string of nine consecutive winning seasons under their spiker guru.

Whitmore led Coupeville to the state tourney in 2017, snapping a 12-year dry spell, and got back in both 2023 and 2024, with the last of those teams claiming 4th place for the first state trophy in program history.

In between, his teams posted double-digit win totals eight times, with the only outlier being the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, when the Wolves were only allowed to play nine matches total.

When he stepped down after the 2024 season, Whitmore carried a .702 winning percentage with him, having gone 106-45 while on the CHS sideline.

How does that compare to other Wolf coaches? Pretty dang good.

While records are incomplete, the other highest winning percentages I can attest to are owned by the last two CHS softball coaches, Aaron Lucero and Kevin McGranahan.

Lucero is top dog right now, off to a 39-7 start (.848) across his first two seasons, while McGranahan went 111-49 (.694) while matching Whitmore’s nine-year run.

Here’s how Whitmore’s time at Coupeville played out:

2016: 11-6
2017: 13-5 (State)
2018: 11-5
2019: 14-5
2020: 6-3 (Partial season – Covid)
2021: 11-6
2022: 10-6
2023: 12-7 (State)
2024: 18-2 (State – 4th)

That final campaign was truly one for the ages, with Coupeville winning league and district titles, remaining undefeated until the final day of the season, advancing to the state semifinals, and smashing the program’s single season win mark en route to bringing home hardware.

Under Whitmore’s guidance, the Wolves also did the previously unthinkable, toppling La Conner from its perch atop the Northwest 2B/1B League volleyball standings, handing the Braves their first conference losses in more than a decade-plus.

Still kickin’ butt and takin’ names on the court. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

But while the wins and the trophies are huge, what I will remember most about the former Wolf coach is how he got there.

From the first practice to the last banquet, Whitmore was a dream to deal with.

He was friendly, personable, able to take complicated volleyball info and break it down to where even a relative idiot such as myself could (mostly) understand the game in a different way than before.

After crowd-pleasing wins or gut-punch losses, Whitmore never shied away from taking the time to send me emails from the road as the bus bumped back home or camping out in the CHS bleachers to answer my questions.

I found him to be one of the straightest shooters to ever hold a coaching job in Cow Town, and one of the most entertaining.

During his time running the Wolf program, he immersed himself fully in it, building a very-successful youth program which brought his high school players and elementary school students together.

Whitmore made volleyball fun and exciting for the next generation, and it will pay off for years to come.

Filling the gym with smiles. (Phoenix Da Costa-Ford photo)

He also set up a coaching tree which continues to branch out, with former Wolf players such as Ashley Menges, Scout Smith, Alita Blouin, and Hope Lodell having followed in the footsteps of the man who guided them during their own playing years.

While we all would have loved for him to coach for decades, his “retirement” was well earned.

Teaching at one school (Oak Harbor) while coaching at another, while putting in the 24/7/365 level of commitment to the volleyball program he did, takes its toll.

So, seeing Whitmore looking all hale and hearty and maybe able to have a moment or two to himself these days (or be able to spend some quality time with husband Cris), makes it easier to accept.

But while he’s stepped back from the spotlight a bit, that doesn’t mean we can’t pull him back to center stage one more time — at least online.

Today we swing open the doors to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, inducting him for his coaching prowess, his work ethic, and his sunny personality. The pride of Ritzville is the complete package.

After this you’ll find him up at the top of the blog under the Legends tab — the coolest cat in the joint.

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Spiker program keeps it in the family

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Cory Whitmore, new hire, Scout Smith, volleyball on May 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Scout Smith (center) was an assistant coach for a CHS volleyball team which had the best season in program history in 2024. (Sarah Stuurmans photo)

They know her name and her game.

Scout Smith, a 2020 Coupeville High School grad who led the Wolves to the state tournament as a player, will be the next varsity head coach of the spiker program.

The hire, which was confirmed by CHS Athletic Director Brad Sherman, will be official once approved by the school board.

Smith sets a teammate up for a kill. (Brian Vick photo)

Smith, a record-setting setter in her playing days, replaces the man who coached her, Cory Whitmore, who stepped down in April after nine seasons at the helm.

Under his leadership the Wolves won 106 matches (even with one season reduced in half by the pandemic) and went to state three times, earning a 4th place trophy this past fall.

Smith was a sophomore on Whitmore’s first state team in 2017 and also played basketball and softball for the Wolves.

Coming off of two stellar seasons of middle school sports, Smith had an immediate impact in her very first high school contest.

Taking the court as a volleyball player, she burnt Mount Vernon Christian to a crisp, reeling off 27 points on her serve, including 18 straight winners at one point.

The American Badass gave herself a black eye during one playoff match but stayed on the court until the final point. (Charlotte Young photo)

Smith eventually made it to state in two of her three sports, was a captain in all of them, captured several All-League honors and was voted a CHS Athlete of the Year winner as a senior.

After high school, she earned degrees from the University of Washington and Gonzaga and has been working as a substitute teacher in Coupeville.

Smith, whose dad Chris and brothers CJ and Hunter have all coached at CHS, was a volunteer assistant with the Wolf volleyball program and is the current girls’ basketball JV coach.

As she prepares for her debut as the varsity volleyball coach, the school will need to build her a staff, as Whitmore, high school JV coach Ashley Menges, and middle school spiker gurus Cris Matochi and Kristina Hooks all recently stepped down.

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Spiker guru stepping away

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Cory Whitmore, resignation, state tournament, volleyball on April 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Cory Whitmore led CHS volleyball on three trips to the state tourney. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

It’s the end of a remarkable run.

Cory Whitmore, who posted nine consecutive winning seasons during his time as Coupeville High School varsity volleyball coach, has tendered his resignation.

It follows on the heels of JV volleyball coach Ashley Menges stepping down in November to move to Florida.

While the latest news hits on April Fool’s Day, it’s reality, and not a joke.

“Having held this role for the past ten years it has without a doubt been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Whitmore said.

“The memories made, and the relationships built will last a lifetime.

“I am so proud to have worked with incredible young adults, their parents/guardians, colleagues and community members, and I am so grateful to the support I received as we worked together to make the mission and vision possible.”

Whitmore, who teaches at Oak Harbor High School, was hired to coach Wolf volleyball in 2016 after Breanne Smedley left to accept a job with Columbia River.

Coupeville had won seven matches across the previous two seasons but promptly went 11-6 under its new coach.

Whitmore led the CHS spikers to the state tournament in 2017, their first appearance at the big dance since concluding a four-year run in 2004.

The Wolves made it back to the Yakima SunDome in both 2023 and 2024, with this past fall’s team breaking every record in program history.

In what proved to be Whitmore’s final run as its coach, Coupeville was undefeated until the final day of the season, went 18-2, and earned a fourth-place trophy at the 2B tourney.

That was the first state trophy garnered by a Wolf spiker crew.

“I will always be so proud of all that we accomplished, with our primary emphasis being to guide and develop young people into their best versions, successful on and off the court,” Whitmore said.

“I have given my heart and soul to the program, and even through the challenges, I remained determined to rise up and give more and more to reach the goals we set forth.”

Whitmore and husband Cris Matochi celebrate their union with former Wolf spiker star Valen (Trujillo) Printz, who shot their elopement pics.

Putting himself fully into volleyball has been essential to building success, but it has also left the eternally upbeat coach a bit burnt out.

“There have been areas in life that I have neglected a healthy balance,” Whitmore said. “And while I will deeply miss my role as head coach of the program, I do think that those neglected areas deserve as much of my attention.”

During his time at the helm of the CHS program, Whitmore, a top three-sport athlete back in his days in Ritzville, guided multiple Wolf spikers to awards and All-State appearances.

He also built a strong feeder program with the Wolf Pups program, ensuring prospective volleyball players would have a chance to embrace the game from a young age.

Before coming to Coupeville, Whitmore graduated from Washington State University, where he worked as an assistant volleyball coach at Colfax High School during a time when it won two state titles.

He teaches English at OHHS, and coached C-Team volleyball at that school, along with working with the Whidbey Fury club team before taking over the Wolf program.

Whitmore enjoys the All-State game with Wolf seniors Alita Blouin (2) and Maddie Georges. (Suzan Georges photo)

As he exits the CHS gym (or at least won’t live there on a regular basis), Whitmore looks back with pride.

“It was so difficult to come to this decision because I still have so much love for the current, past and potential future players and their families,” he said.

“I still love volleyball; I still believe in the mission and vision for the program.”

And while he won’t be at the head of the program, he will still be around, Coupeville volleyball’s #1 supporter.

“I think to anyone paying attention, you have come to know my passion for serving the young adults in this incredible community, and my love for building up a program we can share in,” Whitmore said.

“To those close to me and in need, don’t ever hesitate to reach out for support – I don’t plan on moving and will continue to enjoy the chance at helping those in my community.

“There is no way to adequately thank all those that have supported me and the program along the way, but I hold so much gratitude to so many in this community.

“Through my role as coach, I’ve also made life-long friends and I’m incredibly grateful to what this journey has given to me.

“Forever and always, Go Wolves!”

Whitmore’s CHS volleyball coaching record:

2016: 11-6
2017: 13-5 (State)
2018: 11-5
2019: 14-5
2020: 6-3 (Partial season – Covid)
2021: 11-6
2022: 10-6
2023: 12-7 (State)
2024: 18-2 (State – 4th)

Total: 106-45

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Spiker ace captures coach’s big day

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Cory Whitmore, Cris Matochi, elopement, marriage, Valen Trujillo, volleyball on January 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Valen (Trujillo) Printz joins Coupeville volleyball coaches Cory Whitmore (left) and Cris Matochi on their wedding day.

“The day was so special.”

When Coupeville volleyball gurus Cory Whitmore and Cris Matochi eloped last summer, the intimate affair included one of their former players.

Valen (Trujillo) Printz, who starred on the court for the Wolves from her libero position, is now dazzling folks as a photographer, and she and husband Hunter joined the Wolf coaches for their romantic getaway.

“The location was amazing, the weather was incredible, we were surrounded by our closest family and friends doing exactly what we enjoy doing,” Whitmore said.

“But it was made that much more special to have Valen there as a part of our big day!”

From chasing down wayward volleyballs to documenting her coach’s wedding day, the former Wolf ace has been indispensable.

“Valen and Hunter are so wildly talented and a blast to be around,” Whitmore said.

“I really love being able to say that we had our wedding photos taken by a former player of mine!

“She not only captured the moment in photographs but I’m telling you, she captured the feeling of being there.

“I am so very proud of her, finding a passion to make into a career, and she is damn good at what she does.”

To see more of Valen’s work, pop over to:

https://valenleephoto.com/

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Spikers sending pack to All-State

Posted in Volleyball, tagged All-State, CHS Wolves, Cory Whitmore, Katie Marti, Lyla Stuurmans, Mia Farris, volleyball on November 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Cory Whitmore unleashes some strategy. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Cram the van.

Fresh off the most-successful season in program history, Coupeville High School volleyball will send four to the Senior All-State games.

The event goes down Sunday, Dec. 8 at Burlington-Edison High School.

The Wolves are sending veteran spikers Katie Marti, Mia Farris, and Lyla Stuurmans, as well as coach Cory Whitmore.

Coupeville’s standouts will join up with players from Adna, Forks, River View, and Okanogan to form Team Gray, which will play Team Purple in the 2B game.

Whitmore will square off with Marie Denny of Liberty (Spangle) in calling the shots.

There are four games, with 1B all-stars kicking things off at 10:30 AM.

The 2B clash is set for 12:30, with 1A/2A (2:30) and 3A/4A bouts (4:30) to follow.

Coupeville, which went 18-2, won league and bi-district crowns, and placed 4th at the state tourney, was undefeated until the final day of the season.

This continues a recent trend of sending Wolf spikers to the All-State games, with Grey Peabody, Maddie Georges, and Alita Blouin having played in recent years.