PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend High School may soon have a three-sport head coach.
Pending the approval of the Port Townsend School District board of directors, head football and baseball coach Tom Webster will take over the boys basketball team next winter.
Once that happens, he will become the only high school coach on the North Olympic Peninsula to head three varsity sports
Not that it’s something he’s too worried about.
“I think after 20-plus years in all of those sports that I’ve been mentored by a lot of really good coaches,” said Webster.
“If I’m not ready now, then I’m never going to be ready.
“This just kind of fell into my lap [with coaches resigning positions].
“I didn’t come here with that aspiration. It’s a little bit different, but I think it will work out.”
As was the case with football, where he succeeded Brian O’Hara after serving as defensive coordinator last fall, Webster will move from an assistant’s position to head coach.
Webster worked under outgoing boys basketball coach John Stroeder each of the past two seasons, including the Redskins’ run to third place in Class 1A in 2009.
As head coach he’ll take the reins of the school’s most successful athletic program, one responsible for a Peninsula-best 26 state appearances and 13 trophies.
Last year, the Redskins were 8-13, falling just two wins short of another trip to Yakima.
“Coach Webster brings in a wealth of coaching skills and an understanding of the game,” Port Townsend Athletic Director Patrick Kane said in a news release.
“He knows the players who have been involved in the program [and] the basketball community and will bring new ideas into the program.
“He learned a lot from coaches John Stroeder and [assistant] Tim Black.
“I am confident the program will continue to be a success under his direction.”
Webster has been a part of Port Townsend High School since 2006.
He has been an assistant coach in football, boys and girls basketball and baseball.
He has been involved in every level of basketball from grade school to college as a player or a coach.
In high school he was a three-sport athlete and all-league in all three.
He played junior college basketball at the College of the Siskiyous in California.
Afterward, he coached boys and girls basketball, football and baseball as a head coach or as an assistant.
Two years ago he took over the varsity baseball team, adding the title of head football coach this past spring.
“Tom and I have had discussions about his role and duties as head football coach,” Port Townsend Principal Carrie Ehrhardt said in a news release.
“We agree that with full support from his coaching staff, he will be able to handle the head coaching duties. He will do a good job.”