Kentridge High’s Dave Jamison will be recognized for his success as a boys basketball coach when he is inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame this summer.
Jamison has coached the Chargers for the past 15 seasons, taking his team to the Class 4A state tournament six times, including the championship game in 2007 when it to Ferris 68-61 in two overtimes. He has a 291-159 record in his 18-year career, including three years he coached at Kent-Meridian before taking over at Kentridge.
Jamison is one of eight coaches who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Western Washington induction ceremony is July 23 at Allenmore Events Center in Tacoma.
Jamison found out last fall that he had been nominated for the Hall of Fame, when he was contacted by Hall of Fame representatives asking him questions about his coaching career.
But it still surprised Jamison when he found out he had been selected for induction.
“I know that there are not that many guys that are actively coaching that are getting in,” he said. “I thought it happens when you retire or are getting really old. I thought maybe someday it might happen, but I didn’t really think about it.”
Ryan Hansen, Auburn High School boys basketball coach, nominated Jamison for the honor. Hansen said he met Jamison 13 years ago after being hired by Auburn.
“Dave kind of reached out to me and right away made me feel like a peer,” Hansen said.
Jamison has been a great mentor throughout the years, Hansen said.
“His teams are consistent,” Hansen said. “They are always near the top of the league… It is easy to recognize a team that is coached by Jamison. They are disciplined, hard working, selfless.”
Hansen said he didn’t have second thoughts about nominating a current coach after looking at other coaches in the state who have been inducted during their coaching career.
“I just felt like coach Jamison is of that same caliber,” Hansen said. “I thought he was worthy of a nomination. I didn’t know if it would go through. If not now, then certainly later.”
Hansen said he was excited when he learned Jamison would be inducted this year.
“Coach Jamison has a lot respect among his peers,” Hansen said. “I can’t say I was surprised.”
Earning that respect is humbling, Jamison said.
“It is a great honor coming from your peers,” Jamison said. “That is what means the most.”
Kentridge principal Mike Albrecht has known Jamison since the late 1980s, when Jamison began his coaching career as junior varsity coach at Kent-Meridian. Albrecht was head coach.
“You could see he was committed to the job,” Albrecht said. “All the aspects that you know you have to do to run a successful high school basketball program Dave did from the very start… He had the passion for the coaching and for the sport. It was easy to see that he was going to be a good head coach and an effective head coach.”
Albrecht said Jamison deserves the honor.
“He has this ability to see the big picture of what coaching is all about,” Albrecht said. “He also has the ability to work with parents and create relationships with kids. Kids want to play for him.”
Jamison is quick to share his success with his fellow coaches and players.
“It has been a team effort here,” he said. “It is more a reflection on the program.”
He said his coaching staff has done a great job of preparing younger players so they are able to succeed on the varsity team.
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