Badger Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee: Athlete and coach Janis Tucker

Janis Tucker has been inducted into the Badger Athletic Hall of Fame.

Born in Worland, Wyoming, Tucker was raised in Wyoming and Montana but spent most of her life in Idaho.  

She attended Bonners Ferry High School where she participated in volleyball, basketball, and track. Janis broke the high school discus record in 1976 and held it until 2004. After high school, Janis attended Spokane Falls Community College where she competed in intercollegiate volleyball and track and field.  

After her freshman year, she transferred to Idaho State University where she continued to play volleyball for two more years. She graduated from Idaho State University with a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in physical education and health, and a minor in speech communication. 

After college, Janis moved back to Bonners Ferry where she met and married her husband, Jim. 

She worked for Boundary County School District as a substitute teacher, a paraprofessional, and finally was hired at Bonners Ferry High School where she taught health, physical education, and speech for 37 years.  

Tucker currently works part time for BCSD as a new teacher mentor. She coached several sports at several levels: youth softball, junior high track, and junior high basketball. She coached high school track and field for five years, junior varsity girls basketball for ten years, varsity volleyball for 31 years, and she will start her eleventh year coaching middle school volleyball. 

Tucker has three children, Jodi, James, and Austin; six grandchildren, and two dogs. She enjoys working out, reading, and watching sports, especially the Badgers.