Whitaker named head coach
Quintz Whitaker was named permanent head coach of the Moses Lake High School baseball team
MOSES LAKE - On Monday, Moses Lake High School Athletic Director Loren Sandhop announced that Quintz Whitaker would become the official head coach of the Chiefs' baseball team in 2012.
Whitaker, assumed the mantle with the title of interim after he took over four games into the season following the sudden death of previous head coach Ed McNamara in March.
Whitaker spent the previous 11 years in various assistant capacities for the Moses Lake program.
Last week the Chiefs were eliminated from regional play after losing 7-6 at Ferris High School, one win from a Class 4A state berth.
Moses Lake finished the season 10-17 and in fourth place of the Big 9 with a 6-6 record, earning Whitaker Co-Coach of the Year honors for the league.
"Its an honor to be named the head coach and I appreciate the opportunity," Whitaker said. "The kids in the community need someone to set an example to follow. Baseball has always been a passion of mine and something I enjoy. This will be a fun opportunity and hopefully an opportunity to help the people of the community and create something they will be proud of on and off the field."
Whitaker played for the Chiefs and had a two-year stint at Wenatchee Valley College in 1995-1996. He earned his Bachelors of Education from Central Washington University in 2001 and followed that up with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Washington in 2005.
He is currently finishing his tenth year as a teacher at Frontier Middle School where he coaches football and boys and girls basketball.
Whitaker also coaches the summer baseball Moses Lake Walleyes Junior Legion team.
He and his wife Julie are parents to two daughters, Alissa and Jenna and one son, Kason.
The decision will be made official pending school board approval.