Bemis resigns as softball coach

The Glacier Wolfpack will have a new softball coach next spring.

Joel Bemis, who has been the head coach since Glacier opened five years ago, has decided to step down.

Glacier assistant Andy Fors will be taking the reins, according to athletic director Mark Dennehy.

“We will certainly miss Joel’s approach with student-athletes. He’s always been a positive person with our students and within our programs,” Dennehy said.

Bemis’ teams made the state softball tournament three out of his five years.

“Andy brings a wealth of experience and energy to the position. He connects extremely well with student-athletes and he has extremely high expectations for all who he interacts with on a daily basis,” Dennehy added.

Bemis’ reason for stepping down is family-related.

He has four young children — two boys who will be seventh and eighth graders and two girls who will be in first and third grades. He’s also working on his master’s degree.

“Being a single dad with four little kids in the house ... I love coaching. I love it, but I was away from my kids too much. I had too many hats on. My two little girls, I just wanted to be with them more,” Bemis said.

“Something had to give and it was going to be coaching. But I’m still going to teach English and I’m still going to do as much as I can,” he said.

“It was a good five years. It was awesome to be there for the start of the program. But where I’m at in life, I need to be with these kids,” he said.

Bemis recommended Fors for the job.

“I think the program is in great hands. He’s going to be perfect for the job,” the coach said.

“I want to thank Joel for everything he has done for me and for the program,” Fors said.

“He’s been a great person to observe over the past five seasons to get me where I am now. I learned a lot about softball from coach Bemis.”

“I have more than enough time to put into it. I’m able to commit a lot to the program,” he said.

“We have the kids and athletes in place. I just believe it is a great opportunity to step into a strong program.”

A 2005 Montana State University graduate, Fors teached technology education at Glacier and has been in the Kalispell district for all seven years of his career. This will be his first head coaching job, although he’s been an assistant for both Bemis and for head basketball coach Mark Harkins since Glacier opened.

“Softball is a very addictive sport. Once you go down to those fields and you are around it, it’s hard to give it up,” he said.

His own playing experience is mostly recreational, Fors is a Polson High School graduate and has been around the sport since he was young.

“Softball is a way of life down there. Everybody has the itch. That kind of gave me a little hunger to be around it,” he said.

As for assistant coaches, only one is a sure bet right now — Mark Fischer has been with the program for a couple of years now.