Blayne will head Spartan hoops

Justin Blayne, coach at Medical Lake for the past six years, has been hired by Rosalia to serve as boys basketball coach and athletic director. Blayne, who also hopes to do substitute teaching at Rosalia, takes over the spot vacated by Rob Hudkins who coached the Spartan hoop team for nine years. Hudkins also served as athletic director and Spartan baseball coach for this year.

Blayne completed studies for a masters degree in education from Eastern Washington University last year. He was head coach of the Cardinal girls team the last two years. Prior to taking that assignment he was an assistant coach for the Cardinals boys team for five years.

Blayne graduated from Medical Lake with the class of 2002 and played basketball under Coach Dave Olzendam who also closed out his long career at ML in 2002.

Hudkins said he decided to step aside this year and spend more time with his family. He said they have been able to enjoy the summer months without having to focus on the upcoming sports.

During Hudkins’ years at Rosalia, the hoop team became a force. They advanced to the state tournament for the last four years and their top finish was the fourth-place trophy this year.

Hudkins noted the additional jobs of athletic director and baseball coach consumed a lot of time during the last sports season, and he decided to take a break.

Also an EWU grad, he went to Rosalia nine years ago after working as a long-term sub and an assistant under former Colfax coach Phil Hergert.

Seven of the seniors from last year’s Spartan hoop team graduated, although Coach Blayne is expected to have jayvee recruits which rolled up an undefeated season last year. The class of seniors was credited with playing a key role in moving the Spartans to the top of the county’s 1B hoops scene.

Hudkins said he will still keep an interest in the sports scene and could make a return to the coaching ranks at some time in the future.

“You’ll probably be seeing me in a lot of different gyms this year,” he noted.