Dr. Jim Shank, ever dapper. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
The giant mural at the center of the Wall of Fame in the Coupeville High School gym is almost universally hailed as “the sad coyote.”
But while a lot of us would argue the painting by a hard-to-track-down artist doesn’t really look like the Wolf it’s supposed to represent, it endures.
And I enjoy gazing at it across the gym during volleyball and basketball contests, as it reminds me of the portrait’s #1 fan.
That would be Dr. Jim Shank, Coupeville’s superintendent during a successful five-year run between 2013-2018.
The adult in the room, the man who rocked a suit and tie like he was Cow Town’s dapper answer to Cary Grant, he was a straight shooter, a man of his word, a firm handshake in a world of too many limp palm clasps.
Well, I’m sure he still is all that and more, though these days he’s living the dream in Ocean Shores, where he’s running the North Beach School District.
That comes after serving several more years in his old-school Idaho stomping grounds after departing Coupeville.
While Dr. Shank and his family no longer live on Whidbey, their legacy endures.
During their time in Coupeville, he and wife Sallie had three of their children attend our schools — Matt, Brian, and Ashlie — and they all excelled as students and athletes.
Like mom and dad, the youngest Shank children were exemplary, and greatly brightened up the joint.
Dr. Shank and daughter Ashlie hang out at a game.
Dr. Shank, who was front and center at seemingly every Wolf sports contest and event — and never once fell asleep in the stands no matter how many things he was juggling — led the way for CHS and CMS as the district made numerous improvements.
Just from a sports standpoint, his tenure produced a laundry list of great additions.
A new track oval and facilities, new bleachers in the gym, a new stadium at Mickey Clark Field, and the aforementioned Wall of Fame.
He was indispensable in the creation of that installation, allowing me to basically do what I wanted, as long as I agreed to keep the “sad coyote” at the heart of things.
Dr. Shank was also the power on the throne when we did the 101st anniversary of Coupeville High School boys’ basketball and was a big proponent of the idea.
“You give David whatever he wants!”
During his time here, I found him to be one of the best superintendents I have witnessed in my 30+ years of writing about Wolf athletics and school room activity.
He always seemed willing to take the time to talk to anyone with concerns or questions, and regardless of his personal thoughts on a matter, truly listened to whatever we had to say.
Even if it was just me nattering on about often silly sports stuff.
You can call me a Shankaholic, and I hope people remember how much he did for our town, and the people who live here.
The man worked his rear off, knew when to glad-hand and when to stand firm, and offered an example of what we all want in the person at the top.
So today we swing open the doors on the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame and welcome the dapper doctor to our digital shrine, where he joins several of his children.
After this, you can find Jim Shank up at the top of the blog, camped out in the “contributors” section under the Legends tab.
And when you’re in the gym Friday night as CHS basketball celebrates another Senior Night, take a moment to gaze up at the “sad coyote,” and see it in a different light.
Like Dr. Shank, who insisted we keep it as part of our heritage, it’s one-of-a-kind.
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And then there were six.
Coupeville Sports 