Coach Finberg to pull double duty

Cary Finberg, who has guided the Columbia Falls boys basketball program to four Class A state championships, hopes he can achieve the same success with the girls program starting with the next school year.

Finberg will remain the boys coach, and pending school board approval, will also coach the Columbia Falls girls.

"I have two girls, so obviously it's been in the back of my mind for awhile," Finberg said.

"I thought, what am I going to do, not coach the boys and go to the girls?

"The boys program is very important to me. I didn't want to give that up. I would miss a lot of my girls games being involved in that. So when the situation came up, fortunately (activities director) John (Thompson) and the administration worked with me and allowed it to happen."

Finberg's oldest daughter, Ciera, will be a freshman in the fall while Cydney will be a seventh grader.

"My wife is supportive of this," Finberg said.

"As a parent, she wants her daughters to have an opportunity. With the experience and success I've had with the boys, I can transfer that over to the girls. And it's not like the girls' program cupboard is bare. They've had successful seasons. They have good kids coming back and I'm excited to be a part of that program. I'm a basketball junkie, so this will give me more time to spend in the gym."

Thompson has already addressed potential scheduling problems for 2011-12, hoping to minimize the number of games where the boys play at home and the girls are on the road the same night. When it does happen, Finberg said he will rely on his talented assistant coaches to overcome those challenges.

"I am very confident in what they can do," Finberg said.

"The coaching staff from both programs are in great shape."

"We'll work together as athletic director and coach to address those challenges to make it successful," Thompson added.

Finberg would replace Dan Fairbank, who resigned after four successful seasons. Fairbank guided Columbia Falls to four state tournament appearances.

The Wildkats dominated league play the last three seasons, going 24-2 in Northwestern A.

"When Dan decided to resign, Cary came to me and talked about it," Thompson said.

"He asked if there was any chance (he could do both).

"I know Cary is an outstanding basketball coach, no doubt. He's done tremendous things with our boys program. I know he looks forward to the challenge and I know he will do a great job."

Finberg's overall coaching record with the boys program is 222-121 in 15 seasons.

"I know there was a coach at Columbus, some Class C coaches (to coach both the boys and girls)," Thompson said.

"I don't know of anyone who has done it in Class A. He wants to take on this challenge."