Bigfork hires new basketball coach, AD

by Joseph Terry Daily Inter Lake
| June 11, 2014 12:07 AM

BIGFORK — Former assistant Sam Tudor has been named the head boys’ basketball coach at Bigfork, taking the reins of the defending Class B state champions from Josh Downey, who departed for the head coaching job at Whitefish High School this spring. Dave Creamer will be taking over Downey’s duties as activities director. Both jobs are pending school board approval at tonight’s board meeting.

Tudor, the junior varsity boys coach and a varsity assistant under former-coach Kurt Paulson two seasons ago, will head the Vikings varsity basketball program next season. A coach for 14 years, Tudor has led programs in Lewistown, Havre, Great Falls and Seeley Lake. He’s currently a sophomore English teacher at Bigfork and the middle school football head coach.

“I’m really excited,” Tudor said. “These are a lot of the kids I’ve had in class the last two years. I see them in the hallways every day and now I get a chance to coach them in a sport I know they’re passionate about.

“It’s not going to be an easy act to follow. We had a lot of success at the JV level. I’m looking forward to working with them again, giving the kids the continuity they deserve.”

Bigfork graduated just three seniors from its state championship team, starting forwards Cameron Nissen and Christian Evans and reserve player Wyatt Fisher. The Vikings should be set up to contend again next season.

Creamer, who is taking over as activities director for Bigfork high and middle schools, has also been involved with the programs in Bigfork for awhile. A 1995 graduate of BHS, he is an assistant coach on the track and field team and volunteers his time with the football and basketball teams, running the school’s social media efforts. Creamer will be joining the school from his job as development manager at Intermountain in Kalispell.

“After being involved with the high school for quite awhile now, (the job) became a lot more interesting to me,” Creamer said.

Downey, who served in both positions last season, led Bigfork to an undefeated season and the school’s first state championship in boys’ basketball. He left after one season to take over the boys program in Whitefish in solely a coaching and teaching position. Paulson, who occupied both positions two years ago, left to take a coaching position at the University of Montana men’s basketball program.