Prep Notebook: Mariner hires ex-player to coach boys basketball team

Published 11:49 am Friday, September 18, 2009

Athletes often stay in touch with their former coaches. But just a relative handful of those competitors ever get to take the place of their one-time mentors.

Tom Jensen is thrilled to be one of the fortunate few.

Jensen is the new head boys basketball coach at Mariner High School, where he once played for coach Dexter Griffen. After 11 seasons guiding a successful Mariner program that made five state-tournament appearances, Griffen resigned in April.

Mariner High assistant principal Scott Powers announced Jensen’s hiring in a June 22 e-mail. This past season, Jensen coached Mariner’s junior varsity team and assisted Griffen with the varsity. Jensen was a starter on Griffen’s first Mariner squad, which in 1998-1999 went 21-7 and finished third at the Class 3A state tournament, still the best showing in program history.

“I think his chances of doing well with the team are very good,” Griffen said. “He’s the guy that I wanted to get the job.”

Jensen, a three-year varsity team starter at Mariner, earned all-league second team honors as a senior. The 1999 Mariner graduate takes over a team coming off of three straight state-tournament appearances and its first district title since the 1980s. Mariner must replace a strong core of experienced seniors. Jensen looks forward to the challenge.

Since he coached Mariner’s junior-varsity team this past season, “I know all the kids. It’s basically just my JV team moving up,” said Jensen.

It was a privilege to play for coach Griffen and now it’s an honor to pick up where Griffen left off, Jensen said. The team’s top returning players, in terms of varsity experience, are post Ryan McCulloch and wings Ayanle Yusuf and Josh Kiehl.

Jensen lives near Mariner’s campus in south Everett. He will teach special education at Explorer Middle School.

Initially, Jensen figured Mariner would need a few years to rebuild after losing eight seniors, including the team’s top five scorers (Michael Minor, Tevin Dillon, Damascus Purnell, Nick Malysheff and Stefan Doerscher). But based on how the Marauders have progressed this summer, they have the potential to compete for a playoff berth next season, Jensen said.

With Jensen at the helm, Mariner is in good hands, Griffen said.

“He’s very intelligent,” said Griffen. “His basketball knowledge is beyond his years, for sure.”

South Whidbey boys hoops coach resigns

Scott Collins resigned after two seasons as South Whidbey High’s boys basketball coach. He guided the Falcons to a 25-19 record and back-to-back district-tournament trips. Collins teaches at Oak Harbor High. In a June 19 e-mail, Collins said he resigned because commuting between the schools was too much.

Local girls headed to soccer nationals

The Crossfire Premier Under-17 girls select team won the 2009 US Youth Soccer Region IV championship June 21 and advanced to the national championships (July 21-26 in Lancaster, Mass.). The Crossfire squad features Archbishop Murphy High teammates Lindsey Bos, Caroline Brawner and Alexa Hughes, and Everett High’s Annie Sittauer. Crossfire outscored its foes 17-3 in six regional matches.

More college-bound athletes

Allie Milless of Arlington High will play softball for Everett Community College. Milless was an All-Wesco North first team selection at first base this past spring.

Monroe High’s Brian Sutter committed to run cross country and track at Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, Calif.). Sutter finished 38th in the 4A boys state cross country meet in November, completing the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 19 seconds.

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.