Eagles fastpitch coach Jim Magnuson resigns
June 16, 2009
By Bob Taylor
Jim Magnuson
Jim Magnuson, who directed Issaquah High School’s fastpitch team to an 18-7 record in its first season at the 4A KingCo Conference level, is stepping down as the head girls fastpitch coach.
“I felt it’s time,” he said. “I wanted to stick out this season because of the seniors on the team. I wanted to get another run at state, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
Issaquah tied with Redmond for first place in the Crest Division during the regular season, but the Eagles’ season came to an end when they were eliminated in the consolation finals of the league tournament.
Magnuson has been at Issaquah for the past seven years. During that time, the Eagles won four 3A KingCo Conference championships and reached the 3A state tournament five times, including a run of three consecutive years, from 2006-2008.“We had a pretty good run. That’s not bad in seven years,” Magnuson said. “We had a lot of quality kids come through the program. We had a lot of good pitchers. You don’t win a lot of games without good pitching. We definitely benefited from a good Little League program, too.”
Magnuson said he will miss his coaching staff, and assistant head coach George Bray in particular.
“There’s none better than George as a coach,” he said.
Magnuson was softball coach at Renton’s Hazen High School for 19 years, serving as slowpitch coach before the program converted to fastpitch.
In addition to coaching softball, Magnuson has been a football coach for 27 years. He was a former assistant at Issaquah High School. Magnuson, who teaches in the Renton district, hopes to coach on the Hazen football staff this fall. He hasn’t ruled out returning as a fastpitch coach, but said he wants to take at least two seasons off.
Issaquah athletic director Michael Bailey said the Eagles would be looking to fill the head coach position in the fall.
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