Former Big Bend coach Chris Carlson makes return appearance to DeVries Activity Center
I wrote the story when Chris Carlson became the North Idaho College women’s head basketball coach back in 2004. It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years, but time marches on for those of us that used to listen to Pete Townsend singing, “Hope I die before I get old.”
Too late. Chris’ beard is gray and my hair is gone.
I remember flashing through his background information: assistant coach at Eastern Washington University (2001-2004); assistant women’s coach at the University of Idaho (2000-2001); played a little pro ball overseas after graduating from Northeast Missouri State University.
I must have skipped over this little tidbit of information or it didn’t sink in until I went to work for the Herald, but Carlson was the Big Bend women’s coach (1992-2000), and was even named the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Eastern Region coach of the year in 1999.
It’s been awhile coaching at the NCAA and NJCAA levels, but when the Cardinals joined the NWAC this season and played at DeVries Activity Center, it was a return to where his coaching career began.
“This was my first head coaching job. We got the first regular-season conference championship and I’m very proud of that,” said Carlson, glancing over at the banner on the wall. “I met (my wife) Carey here. That’s the big story right there. She was the JV coach at Central (Washington), so we played against each other twice. She took a job over here and one thing led to another.”
He and Carey have been coaching together ever since. That was one of the classic lines North Idaho athletic director Al Williams gave me. “He hasn’t hired his staff yet. But if he’s as smart as we think he is, he’ll hire his wife.”
Ain’t that the truth, if you don’t want to be sleeping in the garage with the dogs you better hire your wife. Actually, Carey’s credentials will get her a job anywhere. But they are pretty good together.
Wednesday marked the return of the Carlsons to DeVries Activity Center. The Vikings did their best to make that return another loss, but North Idaho escaped by virtue of shooting free throws down the stretch.
Big Bend is where it all started for a guy that led the Lady Cardinals to their first-ever NJCAA national championship (2011), where he was named national tournament coach of the year. He has fond memories of the Columbia Basin and the first eight years of a career devoted to women’s basketball.
“Big Bend’s atmosphere is always great. The people are great, some of them came up and said hi tonight,” Carlson said. “They’re just down-to-earth people, man. It was a great job. We loved it here. The administration was easy to work with. They have a great facility and there’s some great things going on here.
“It was a great place for me to grow, mature a little bit and meet some coaches and get an opportunity to go to Idaho and Eastern.”
Rodney Harwood is a sports writer for the Columbia Basin Herald and can be reached at rharwood@columbiabasinherald.com