Clearly, coaching the Darrington High School football team the past two seasons was a special experience for Fred Emerson.
Practices, games, bus trips and other team-related interactions — it was all memorable.
“I just loved every minute of it,” Emerson said Thursday after announcing he is retiring from coaching for the second time.
Emerson’s resignation became official last month, Darrington athletic director Kim Wardwell said.
Emerson dedicated 31 years to coaching high school athletics before coming out of retirement to coach Darrington. The team went 2-7 in 2006 and improved to 10-1 in 2007, reaching the Class 2B state playoffs. The Loggers lost in the first round against eventual state runnerup Toutle Lake.
“We had a great year, just an absolutely great year,” Emerson said.
But the 72-year-old Emerson said two factors — back pain and a long, increasingly costly commute — convinced him to retire again.
Emerson has a back problem that flared up this past fall and worsened during the season. Emerson, who endured back surgery about 10 years ago, was told by a doctor that standing for extended periods, such as during practices and games, aggravates the back issue.
Another glitch for Emerson, who lives in Marysville, was his daily 80-mile round-trip commute. It became even more troublesome with the soaring cost of gas, he said.
Emerson said he will miss coaching and wishes Darrington good luck. He praised the team’s players and assistant coaches for working hard during his two seasons.
When Darrington hired Emerson, the Loggers were coming off a 1-9 2005 record. Before Emerson finished, he guided the program to its first state playoff trip since 2001.
Emerson “came in for two years and did a wonderful job. Fred did everything we asked him to do to set up a positive program,” Wardwell said.
The lengthy coaching career of Emerson included prep jobs at Lake Stevens, Kent-Meridian, Hoquiam, Auburn, Enumclaw and Manson. He also coached at Western Washington University.
Will Emerson’s second retirement be permanent? Based on how his body feels, it’s likely.
Said Emerson, “You hate to admit that — that you’re old — but I’m getting there.”
Emerson’s replacement hasn’t been hired yet, but Chad Monteith has been recommended by administrators to be Darrington’s next head football coach. The Darrington School Board is expected to make a decision June 19.
Monteith assisted Emerson the past two years, mainly working with linemen. Monteith is Darrington’s head wrestling coach.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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