Kamiak Basketball Coach Resigns

Citing personal reasons that neither he nor school officials would reveal, Jerry Morris has resigned as the boys basketball coach at Kamiak High School.

Morris was two-thirds of the way through his sixth season before stepping down last Wednesday for unspecified reasons, citing only a "time for change."

"I want to say only that I stepped away for personal reasons, and let's leave it at that," said Morris, who began coaching at the Mukilteo School District high school when it opened in 1993 without a senior class.

Jeff Leary, who was in his third season as the Knights' junior varsity coach, has been appointed as interim head coach, Kamiak Athletic Director Frank Foster said last night.

Foster also declined to go into specifics, saying only that Kamiak is "very grateful" for all Morris has done and that Morris "does a great job with kids."

Leary, a 1981 Mariner graduate, was once one of Morris' students at Mariner. A two-sport athlete, Leary played in the all-state games for football (quarterback and defensive back) and basketball (guard) as a senior, then played defensive back at Idaho before transferring to Edmonds Community College and Central Washington University. He played basketball at both of the latter schools.

Leary began coaching as an assistant at Mariner in the late 1980s and eventually became a head boys basketball coach for three seasons (1993-95) at South Whidbey. Leary, who also served as the quarterback coach for the Knights during the fall, teaches sports medicine and health classes at Kamiak.

Leary, who last night described himself as a longtime acquaintance and friend of Morris, welcomed the appointment.

"It's tough to happen in the middle of the season, but I'm happy to do it," said Leary, who's quite familiar with members of the basketball team since several played football.

Morris, a 1964 Ballard graduate with 20 years of coaching experience (including 14 years as the JV coach at Mariner prior to taking over at Kamiak), said he will continue to teach his law and Advanced Placement American Government classes at Kamiak.

Kamiak, which was 11-9 overall last season and placed sixth among seven teams in the Western 4A Conference, is 1-5 in WesCo 4A this season and 7-7 overall, including a 51-47 loss to Snohomish last Friday. Kamiak opened the season with four victories but has lost four of the past five games. The Knights play host to Sehome tonight.