New coaches in place for Thompson Falls

Coaching staffs are in place for Thompson Falls High School as the prep spring sports seasons rapidly approach across western Montana.

In Blue Hawk track and field, Trenna Ferris steps in as head coach behind the legendary Randy Symon, who finally hung up his whistle last spring after more than 30 years of guiding the program. Ferris’s transition should be made easier by the return of the assistant coaching staff last year, comprised of Amy Gilbert, Jake Susic and Sarah Naegeli.

In softball, football coach Jared Koskela has stepped into the head coaching position in place of Randy Pirker, another long-time Blue Hawk coach in that sport. Julie Detlaff will be an assistant for Koskela this spring, and Pirker is being retained as a volunteer.

The only returning head coach for a Thompson Falls spring sport, Mike Bates is back to guide the Hawk and Lady Hawk linksters. Not officially listed as an assistant, former head coach Gary Thompson, who has retired, has indicated he will also be helping out as able.