Ephrata names Carlstrom head basketball coach

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District has named Ryan Carlstrom its new head coach of boys basketball. According to a press release, Carlstroms’ hire will be made official following school board action on May 18.  

“I’m excited to be part of the Ephrata community and to get to know the student-athletes,” said Carlstrom in the press release. “As a teacher first and foremost, I see coaching and teaching as closely connected. I’m looking forward to challenging the athletes and myself as we build on this program together. Summer ball is coming up, and I can’t wait to get to work and help motivate these students to do their best.”   

Carlstrom brings more than a decade of high school basketball coaching experience to Ephrata, including leadership roles in the Moses Lake High School boys basketball program.  

Last season as the head coach of the Mavericks junior varsity boys, he led the team to a 20-1 record while also assisting with the varsity program. He previously spent seven seasons as freshman boys basketball coach, according to ESD’s statement.  

“Ryan has dedicated more than a decade to developing high school basketball players and understands what it takes to build a successful program,” said Bryan Johnson, EHS Athletic Director and Assistant Principal in a statement from the district. “We had a strong pool of experienced candidates throughout the process, and Ryan stood out because of his high school coaching experience, his ability to build meaningful relationships with student-athletes and his commitment to creating a competitive, positive culture.” 

A more in-depth story on Carlstrom's hire will be published in a later edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.