GIRLS SOCCER: Jenni Sipe tabbed new Flathead coach

Jenni Sipe, the former head coach at Gig Harbor (Wash.) High School, has been named the new girls soccer coach at Flathead High School, pending school board approval.

She was one of two candidates interviewed for the position by a committee of Flathead administrators. Sipe replaces former coach Cory Wilson, who resigned after last season.

Sipe stepped away from coaching for family reasons 12 years ago after leading Gig Harbor from 2000-04 and is excited for the chance to return to the sideline.

“I’m looking forward to bringing the knowledge that I was blessed with and the skills that I had over (in Washington) to the Valley,” she said. “I was very fortunate to be with some great coaches over there.”

Sipe played at Pacific Lutheran for Dr. Colleen Hacker, a revered coach who was on the staff of the U.S. Women’s National Team for three Olympic games and three World Cups.

Even while she’s been away from high school coaching, Sipe has continued to work at Colleen Hacker’s Success Soccer Camp each summer.

“My college coach (Dr. Hacker) was such an inspiration to me,” Sipe said. “We started a soccer camp in the community and I’ve been involved in that since the freshman spring of my college career.”

Sipe inherits a team that sputtered to a 3-8-2 record a year ago. The Bravettes won 10 games in 2013, Wilson’s first season at the helm, and went to the state tournament in 2013 and 2014.

Sipe has not seen the Bravettes play in person and does not believe that’s necessarily to her detriment.

“I think that’s good because I don’t have a lot of preconceived anything,” she said. “Whoever is willing to play, I’m willing to work with. It can be great to have a fresh new outlook.”

The Bravettes return to the pitch this fall.