Board approves new basketball coach

The Whitefish School Board July 8 accepted the resignation of one boys basketball coach and hired a replacement with two unanimous votes.

Josh Downey resigned just two months after he was first hired to lead the Whitefish High School boys basketball team. Curtis Green will now lead the boys team next season.

The shift comes after claims from Downey that he was forced out by school administrators who he says failed to follow through on promises to help him find a job in Whitefish — either with or outside the district — if he accepted the coaching position.

Whitefish athletic director Aric Harris said there was never any promise made of a teaching position tied to the coaching job.

“Both parties decided to go their separate ways,” Harris told the school board. “It’s unfortunate the comments that have been made publicly that couldn’t have been more inaccurate.”

Harris said he recently met with players on the boys basketball team.

“We’re ready to move forward,” he said. “Our kids are ready for the next phase.”

Based upon recommendations from Harris, the board approved the resignation and subsequent hiring. Green was one of Whitefish’s finalist during the first round of interviews when Downey was hired.

Trustee Shawn Tucker, who was involved in the interview process, called the situation “disappointing.”

“Curtis Green was just as qualified in his job,” he said. “I couldn’t be more happy for our basketball program and kids (to hire Green).”

Trustee Shawn Watts agreed.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we didn’t create a job that didn’t exist (for Downey),” he said.

Downey resigned in May as Bigfork’s head basketball coach and athletic director to take the Whitefish position. He led the Vikings squad to the Class B state championship and a perfect season last year.

In an interview with the Pilot, Downey claimed he was coerced into signing the Whitefish coaching contract without any real job security. The district maintains that Downey’s contract “clearly stated” the coaching job wasn’t linked to a teaching position.

Principal Kerry Drown said administrators made it clear to all candidates that the position was for coaching basketball only and did not involve a teaching job.

“Many times coaches are also teachers,” Drown said. “We went into this (coaching) position knowing we had limited teaching positions in the district. Our activities are very important, and they supplement our classroom activities, but we were not going to compromise one for the other.”

Green coached at Raymond Kellis High School outside of Phoenix the past seven years. He resigned from that position in May.

He played college basketball at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and played for the Sacramento Kings in the 2006 NBA Summer League.

Green is certified to teach physical education and health, and has background in business. He is expected to sign a contract with the district that states the basketball coaching job isn’t tied to a teaching position.

The stipend for the head basketball coach at Whitefish is set at $5,657 for the 2014-15 school year.