After five years in job he wants to focus on other aspects of career, personal life
By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Cheney school district officials have announced that Ryan Fitzgerald has resigned as Blackhawks boys' head basketball coach. Fitzgerald gave his resignation last Friday to high school administrators and his players, saying he wanted to focus more on other aspects of his professional teaching career and personal life.
Fitzgerald said Tuesday his three kids are all now at the age where they are getting involved in after school activities and felt now was the time to bring his focus in their direction. Leaving Cheney after five years leading the Blackhawks was not difficult.
“A lot went into it,” he said. “It was time. It was time to weigh everything and focus on other things.”
In the coaching profession for 16 years, seven as a head coach, Fitzgerald compiled an overall record of 95-66, 31-18 in two years at Liberty High School and 64-48 in five at Cheney. He never had a season with under 10 wins, and led the Blackhawks to the 2007-2008 2A state tournament, finishing seventh.
It was the first appearance for the Blackhawks boys at state since the 2000-2001 team reached the 3A tournament, the first trophy for any CHS basketball program since 1999 and the first top-eight placing for the boys since the 1997 team that lost in the 3A title game to O'Dea.
For all that success, Fitzgerald said this year's team was his most enjoyable to coach. The Blackhawks lost their three top scorers and top rebounder from a playoff team that went 9-5 in Great Northern League play, 13-8 overall, returning just three players with varsity experience and only one who saw action in all 21 games the year before.
The Blackhawks were picked to finish sixth in the GNL, but Fitzgerald guided the team to a fourth-place finish and 13-8 overall record, losing in the first round to East Valley.
“They were part of my proudest season as a head coach, and that includes the year we finished seventh,” he said. “This group is going to win a lot of games next year.”
Fitzgerald also praised CHS principal Tom Gresch and Blackhawks athletics director Jim Missel for some of his success.
“I could not have asked for a better AD/principal situation,” he said.
In a prepared statement Missel said the school has posted the position on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's website along with in various newspapers. The intent is to have a “successful Head Boys Basketball Coach for the 2011-2012 season for Cheney High School.”
“He (Fitzgerald) will be missed as the boys Head Basketball Coach and we want to wish him the best both personally and professionally,” Missel said in the release.
Fitzgerald will remain in his position as language arts teacher at the high school.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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