Column: New AD Bravely steps in at Flathead

If the state of Idaho is a triangle, then you could say new Flathead High activities director Matt Allison has lived in every corner of the Gem State — including the town of Middleton, which isn’t in the middle at all.

The graduate of Payette High coached some football and baseball here and there, with stops at Lakeland High in Rathdrum and American Falls as well as his alma mater. It was with Lakeland that he attended a football team camp at the University of Idaho, and one of the teams they matched up with was the Flathead Braves. 

“Just class acts,” Allison remembered. “It impressed me.” 

A few years later he was hired by Flathead as an assistant principal. Three years after that he’s been tasked with replacing Bryce Wilson, who directed activities at the high school for 13 years.  

No big deal. Hey, there’s a fire hose if you need a spot of water. 

“I’ve been blessed in that I believe Bryce really hired the right coaches,” Allison said last week. “I think we’ve got good people working with our kids. And that’s our No. 1 priority: Do we have coaches that care about the kids, and about making their lives better?” 

Continuity is always a bonus. With a few exceptions — boys track coach Dan Hodge has been around half a century, and Allison mentioned speech and debate coach Shannon O’Donnell more than once — when things have really started going well around Flathead, the coach has found a different job.  

Keeping coaches has been big at places like Missoula Sentinel and Helena Capital and yes, Glacier High — who have programs that if they’re not dynasties, are pretty close. 

“One thing on my to-do list to grow our programs is assistant coaches,” Allison said. “I think we have a lot of talent at the head coaching positions, and we need to grow some assistant coaches.” 

Married to his high school sweetheart, Hailey, the 33-year-old is father of two girls and boy, ages 4, 6 and 8.  

These potential gym rats will see dad keeping long hours while working toward the goals he learned as a high school athlete and coach.   

Be a student of the game. Put in the hours and work. 

“Then you have to have the belief that when you get on the field, you will win,” he said. 

Allison is in his 11th year of high school education, and until now it had been split evenly between teaching and administration. Now he’s wearing a new hat, and he’s excited not only for what the future holds at Flathead, but the present. 

“I have coaches that I would have my kids play for,” he said. 

Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 406-758-4463 or at fneighbor@dailyinterlake.com.