Koester Takes Cascade Job -- Boys Basketball Coach Won Two State Titles At Redmond

Jerry Koester, who has coached Redmond High's boys basketball teams to the state tournament the past seven seasons, has been hired to coach at Everett's Cascade High.

Koester, 47, was the winningest coach in the KingCo Conference in his eight seasons at Redmond, compiling a 190-41 record.

"He's certainly a proven commodity, not only as a basketball coach but also in the classroom," said Gary Axtell, Cascade principal. "He runs a very strong program from the teaching aspect of it. He really teaches basketball."

Koester, who will also teach physical education at Cascade, replaced Charlie Cobb, who resigned after 14 seasons as head coach, citing pressure from parents.

Koester said major reasons for seeking the Cascade position were job stability and the chance to work with his wife in the same district. His wife, Karen, is an elementary-school principal in the Everett district.

"It wasn't fair to ask her to keep making the drive every day," he said. "And with the downsizing here (Redmond), my teaching position was in limbo a little bit. This gave me a little more stability.

"And Cascade's a good school. I'm excited about the opportunities that are there."

He said the drain on the Redmond talent pool caused by the opening of the city's new high school, Eastlake, was not a factor in his decision.

"I would never make a decision based on kids on a particular team or competition or things like that," he said. "These things are going to change year to year."

Koester, who was an assistant at Idaho State University before coming to Redmond, was a finalist for the head men's coaching job at Whitman College in Walla Walla last month.

Redmond never had won a KingCo Conference boys basketball title before Koester took over in 1986-87. The Mustangs have won four since then, including the past two.

His teams also have won four district titles and two Class AAA state titles (1989 and '90). In all, Redmond has won six state trophies in seven tournament appearances, finishing in the top three five times.

"It's extremely difficult (to leave) because of the people," Koester said. "I have a lot of very fond memories and very special experiences at Redmond that I will be able to keep."