Hashley added to head post for hoops
Veteran coach will guide girls program
Kalispell already has one girls basketball program to be proud of in Kim Elliott's Flathead High School squad. Doug Hashley looks to build another.
Hashley will be Glacier High School's first girls basketball coach when the school opens this fall, Flathead activities director Mark Dennehy announced last week. Dennehy becomes Glacier's activities director and assistant principal in the fall while Frank Jobe takes over as activities director at Flathead.
"Doug brings a wealth of basketball knowledge to the position," Dennehy said. "He also has an extraordinary vision for Wolfpack basketball, as well as the background to start a program from the ground up."
Hashley, 47, was a starting power forward for Montana State University from 1977-82 before playing a professional season in Scotland. The Big Sandy High alumnus studied physical education at MSU, and has taught for 25 years. He currently teaches health enhancement at Kalispell Junior High.
Hashley's new post at Glacier marks his fifth head-coaching stint. He served as basketball and volleyball coach at Livingston's Park County High from 1985-86, boys basketball coach at Corvallis High from 1986-88, and boys basketball coach at Flathead from 1993-96.
He honed his craft under outstanding prep coaches, including Fred Febach, Bill Epperly, Dennis Latimer and Joe Antioetti, but Hashley faces unique challenges at Glacier, such as building a program without any seniors.
"The big picture right now is you're just developing new traditions with the other coaches and students," Hashley said. "It's going to be so exciting.
"We're just going to have to rely on the little things that make us better, and I have some big expectations and goals for the end of next year. Basically, I want Glacier High School to be the pride of Kalispell, but not only Kalispell, the state of Montana, too."
Hashley knows many of Glacier's future players quite well. He taught many of them in school and worked with most of them as Flathead's freshmen girls coach - a post he held for eight years before taking last season off to rest and apply at Glacier.
Hashley will coach his daughter, Emilee, who helped Flathead to a third-place finish at the Class AA state tournament earlier this month. The 6-foot sophomore will be Flathead's only varsity player moving to Glacier as the rest of the Bravettes will be seniors at Flathead.
"I'm very fortunate to be able to coach her, as well as a lot of super girls I know who are going to Glacier," Hashley said. "I'm excited to coach each one of them."
Hashley's oldest daughter, Holli, is a freshman volleyball player at Carroll College, while his youngest daughter, Cassidy is in fifth grade, and his son, Jaxen is in second grade.
According to Hashley, solid, half-court defense will be Glacier's trademark.
"I stress defense and we definitely will have good team defense," Hashley said. "Once in a while we'll come full-court with it, but most of the time we'll (apply) pretty good pressure and take care of our house, which is what I call the key. Defense will definitely be what we hang our hat on."
Hashley said the Wolfpack will run multiple offensive sets, based on game situations and personnel.
"Each one we choose will benefit the girls that we have so they feel comfortable in the offense that they can attack the basket," Hashley said.
Hashley said Glacier's biggest athletic priority will be building its programs through the junior high level. He said Glacier's students should participate in as many activities as possible because the school's enrollment will be limited at first.
"All of us (coaches) are going to have to share with each other," said Hashley, adding that cooperation shouldn't be difficult because Dennehy and Glacier principal Callie Langhor have created an enthusiastic environment.
"They have done a super job of hiring and creating a positive environment at Glacier," Hashley said. "I'm just excited to be a part of that positive climate."