New soccer coach

Bonners Ferry High School volunteer assistant coach Ed Moe has been named the head coach for the fall season.

Moe replaces Wayne Wilkerson, who resigned earlier this year.

“I think he’ll be really, really good,” said Wilkerson, who was the Intermountain League’s Coach of the Year in 2008 and Coach of the Year for Idaho’s 3A schools in 2007.

Wilkerson, who resigned now that his three soccer-playing sons have graduated, made the comment based on Moe’s knowledge of the sport and his rapport with players.

Athletic director Ted Reynolds agrees.

“He knows a lot of those kids from the last two years and I don’t think he missed too many games,” Reynolds said. “He has the desire to see the program continue to be successful.”

Moe has been the varsity assistant coach for two years. Wilkerson asked Moe to join the coaching staff when Moe’s son, Aaron, was a freshman on the team. Aaron is now a junior and continues to play on the team.

Moe applied for the top job after Wilkerson resigned.

“I do know a little about soccer and really, nobody else stepped forward,” he said. “We’ve had a pretty successful organization and I want to keep it headed in the right direction. There’s nothing to fix or do over. I want to keep it going.”

Moe at age 7 began playing soccer in a recreation league in Tacoma, Wash. He also played in high school in Tacoma, where his dad was a coach.

Since moving to Bonners Ferry 20 years ago, Moe has been involved with the adult soccer and youth recreation leagues.

When practice begins on Monday, Aug. 10, Moe will be without 2009 graduates Jody Wilkerson, Miguel Mendez and John Wakkinen.

Moe will see the return of senior defenders Blake Skjeveland and Carey Reynolds; juniors Alex Mendez, Aaron Moe and Hayden Wakkinen; and sophomores Andre Zarate and Mat Evans. The seven returning players have experience from playing in the state tournament.

The Badgers will open the season on Aug.  22 against 4A Moscow. Bonners Ferry expects a tough season with non-league games against 5A Coeur d’Alene and 4A Lakeland and Sandpoint. League games will include Orofino, St. Maries and Priest River.