Duff tapped to lead Whitefish boys basketball

Sean Duff is set to return to the bench as a Whitefish High School basketball coach, this time leading the boys varsity team.

The former Lady Bulldog head basketball coach was offered the boys head coaching position June 16. The school board will consider the recommendation at their next meeting in July.

Duff will replace Curtis Green, who resigned following the 2016 season.

Whitefish Athletic Director Aric Harris said a hiring committee looked at a pool of eight applicants and four finalists. They unanimously chose Duff for the job.

“Sean emerged as the one who had the qualities we were really looking for,” Harris said.

“He brings a lot to the table in terms of his commitment and passion for the game. He’s deeply involved in our activities, from youth sports up to the high school. He’ll do a remarkable job of building the program to what we expect.”

Duff coached the Whitefish girls varsity team for four seasons, winning eight games total in during his tenure. A contentious parting played out publicly in 2013 when Duff and assistant coach Megan Pepe were not rehired following the 2013 season. Duff asked to remain on as head coach and received deep support from players and parents, but his contract was not renewed.

Harris said time appears to have healed any wounds left from the previous parting.

“Him stepping away has been good,” Harris said. “But he’s stayed in tune to the basketball program. When you take a step away like he did, sometimes you tend to not be as involved, and that’s just not the case with Sean. He cares about our kids and the program.”

Duff is a fifth-grade teacher at the middle school with strong family ties to Whitefish.

“He’s deeply rooted in our community,” Harris said. “He’s been around the program for 20 years. He wants to be involved and has a great plan for the program. Our kids are excited about it.”

The boys team has had a coaching carousel since Mark Casazza resigned at the end of the 2014 season after five years leading the Bulldogs. Whitefish then hired Josh Downey, but he resigned two months later without ever coaching a single game. Green came on board for the 2014-15 season.

Whitefish finished the 2016 season 7-14 overall and 3-3 in the conference, and missed out on a trip to the State A tournament for the seventh consecutive season.