E-W taps Rubin as boys coach

Published 11:29 am Thursday, May 22, 2008

The NBA used to make TV ads in which celebrities expressed their devotion to basketball by saying, “I love this game.”

Todd Rubin couldn’t agree more.

“I just love the game. I have a passion for teaching it,” Rubin said May 15 while talking about how excited he is to be the new head boys basketball coach at Edmonds-Woodway High School.

Rubin, a boys hoops assistant at Seattle Preparatory School three of the past four years, accepted the Edmonds-Woodway job on May 13. He is a first-time varsity head coach.

Rubin, 25, played basketball and baseball at Redmond High before competing in baseball at Linfield College (McMinnville, Ore.). He “has the knowledge and motivation to continue building a competitive program at (E-W), and in addition, we feel he has the ability to positively impact his athletes in their character, leadership and academic development,” Julie Stroncek, interim Edmonds School District co-athletic director, said in a statement.

Rubin replaces Gail Pintler, who resigned last month after two seasons. Pintler guided the Warriors to back-to-back Class 4A state tournament appearances, including a seventh-place finish in March. Pintler’s teams tallied 40 victories and 13 defeats.

“Their past coach, Gail, did obviously a terrific job and I have big shoes to fill,” Rubin said.

At Seattle Prep Rubin saw what it takes to rise to the top. He was a varsity assistant for Prep’s 2006 squad that won the 3A state championship.

“I really enjoyed it and really learned a lot from the coaches there,” Rubin said of his three seasons at Prep.

“I like a fast-paced game,” he said. “We’re going to be extremely aggressive on both sides of the ball and in transition.”

Mike Cane writes for The Herald in Everett.