EDMONDS – After exceeding expectations with an extremely young team this past winter, Rob McMains has resigned following five seasons as Edmonds-Woodway High’s boys basketball coach.
“Basically, I’m just worn out. It’s just time to take a step back and catch my breath,” said McMains, 31, who will continue at Edmonds-Woodway as a physical education instructor.
The future seemed bright for E-W and McMains, who is married and would like to start a family. Despite relying heavily on sophomores and juniors during the 2005-2006 season, the Warriors reached the Class 4A District 1 tournament. E-W placed third in the Western Conference South Division with a record of 12-6, matching the program’s 12-6 mark under McMains in ‘03-‘04, and was 14-9 overall.
“It was very exciting. We had a great time. For me, the most fun I’ve had as a coach was this past season,” said McMains, a graduate of Prosser High, located about 50 miles southeast of Yakima.
But the grind of what’s essentially become a year-round coaching responsibility forced McMains to reevaluate his priorities. Thursday after school he broke the news to E-W players, who McMains said were “surprised and a little bit disappointed.” “It was definitely one of the toughest decisions I’ve made,” McMains said of giving up his first head coaching job. “We’ve got a great group of guys coming back.” Edmonds-Woodway’s ‘05-‘06 success was remarkable considering just one senior scored more than 2.0 points per game (Owen Vaabene, 4.8). Sophomore guards Max Ortiz (7.3 ppg) and James Conti (6.6), along with several more young standouts, made key varsity contributions just one year after they helped E-W’s junior varsity team go 18-2.
McMains will be missed, Edmonds School District athletic director Terri McMahan said in a press release: “Rob greatly improved the program during his five-year tenure.” McMahan did not say when the district will start seeking applicants to replace McMains.
“Rob has been an outstanding teacher and coach for our school district,” McMahan added. “He is an individual of strong character and high ethics who will always have a place to coach in our district should he choose to return.” McMains praised his players’ dedicated, supportive parents and didn’t rule out an eventual return to coaching.
Said McMains, “I don’t know that I’m done coaching. I just know I need a break.”
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