Heraldnet.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009 9:20 pm
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Blog
John Boyle
Thanksgiving practice report
Blog
Nick Patterson
Another former Tip returns to the division
Meet the
2009 Silvertips
Latest gallery

MLS Cup - Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy
November 22. 2009 (23 photos)
[More Herald photos]
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday
County law could change to allow guns in parks
Boy, 16, admits role in Sultan slaying of teen
Swift buses ready for fast lane
Tuesday


Father guilty of manslaughter in girl's death
Snohomish County budget passes, with a caveat
Soldier with ties to Marysville killed in Afgha...
Monday


Economy may silence Everett Symphony's season
Inmates with mental illness bring extra costs t...
Help with heating bills late to arrive this year
Sunday


Nurse seeks help healing hidden wounds of wars
Count drags on long after the election's over
Groups work to help those in uniform
Saturday


Nearly 30 kids adopted during annual event in S...
Gold Bar couple admit animal cruelty in puppy m...
Arlington area man's arrest in alleged burglar'...
Friday


Nearly 2,000 turn out for Stevens Pass opening day
Victim of alleged burglary now a suspect in kil...
Shelter asks for diaper donations during holida...
Thursday


Safety long a concern for road involved in fata...
State budget's $2 billion hole will require dee...
County considers building for disaster response...
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Sports   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
 
CONTACT THE HERALD
Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.)
E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com
Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
kbrown@heraldnet.com
 
Published: Friday, August 1, 2008

Coaches followed in their fathers' footsteps

While most of the kids in his neighborhood were watching Howdy Doody or cartoons, 5-year-old Dennis Erickson spent much of his free time sitting in front of a screen that provided a different kind of entertainment.

X's and O's.

As the son of a high school football coach, Erickson was learning the game by osmosis for much of his childhood. Coaching wasn't just in his blood, it was also in his childhood home.

"There's nothing else I wanted to do from as far back as I can remember," said Erickson, whose father, Robert "Pinky" Erickson, coached at Ferndale and Cascade high schools.

"When you're in the locker room as a 5-year-old, watching football film when other kids are watching other stuff on television, you feel like that's what you want to do."

Erickson is one of several sons of local coaches who learned from high-profile fathers.

Mike Price, who went on to play football alongside Erickson at Everett High School before making it as a big-time college football coach, is the son of Everett Junior College football coach Walt Price.

Hall-of-Fame high school football coach Terry Ennis learned from his father, Jim, who coached at Everett High and Everett Junior College.

Local basketball coaching legends like Norm Lowery and Marv Harshman had sons who went into the business, while current Seattle Seahawks assistant Keith Gilbertson Jr. is the son of longtime Snohomish High coach Keith Gilbertson Sr.

It's no coincidence that many of the second-generation coaches have been just as successful as their fathers.

Joe Ennis, whose grandfather (Jim) and father (Terry) are among the greatest coaches this county has ever seen, is not surprised by the number of second-generation coaches.

"You meet kids that are positively affected by your father, and you realize you can make a difference in someone's life," said Joe Ennis, a mortgage broker who got into coaching last fall as the defensive backs coach at Archbishop Murphy High School.

The Herald's countdown of the Top 25 most successful coaches in Snohomish County history already includes a father-son combo: The Gilbertsons came in at Nos. 18 and 20.

"In my case, people thought my dad was a very fine coach," said Gilbertson Jr., who is in his fourth year with the Seahawks after a short stint as head football coach at the University of Washington. "He had the respect of a lot of people in the community and in Snohomish County. At the same time, he was pretty demanding on us as kids. But he was very fair.

"I think Mike Price would say the same thing about his dad, Dennis would say it about his dad, and Terry Ennis would have said the same thing about his dad. That's part of it."

1. Boy, 16, admits role in Sultan slaying of teen
2. Jet-winged adventurer ditches in Atlantic, unhurt
3. Swift buses ready for fast lane
4. Gunshots injure two Everett men
5. County law could change to allow guns in parks
6. Turkey gets attention, but don't forget the pie
7. Enron and others pay for roles in manufactured energy ‘crisis’
8. Beach now an enemy of the Silvertips
9. How to make the most of Black Friday shopping
10. Thanksgiving tradition evolves as families evolve
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings
Ruling in the pool
Archbishop Murphy takes title
A season of performing arts
Budget numbers have official fuming
Wildcats move on to 2A semifinals
Holiday Bazaars & Fairs Calendar
Edmonds’ Westgate Chapel serves up hospitality for holiday
Mavericks fall
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


15% Off
All Repairs!

Holiday Specials
up to 25% off!

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

$5 Off
Stylecut

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off

Nutcracker
Family Packs Available

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
30yd Carpet Purchase

$2 OFF
at Box Office

Lube, Oil & Filter
Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE

Always Free
Transmission Diagnostic

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas

Holiday Getaway
$99 dbl Occupancy

$1 off French Dip
$4.99 Burger Basket

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

$5 OFF
Lunch or Dinner

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
Lube Oil Filter
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT