White River High girls basketball coach Chris Gibson will take on additional responsibilities as the school’s athletics and activities coordinator.

“I’m excited to have Chris in the building,” Principal Mike Hagadone said.

“Chris has a lot of talents and strengths,” Hagadone said, noting Gibson’s years of work with the school district as the Community Activities Program assistant coordinator. “He’s trusted. He’s worked with the community members and kids. And he’s highly respected among the coaching community in the state.”

Gibson, who has been the district’s Community Activities Program (CAP) assistant coordinator for 11 years and the WRHS girls basketball coach 12 years, shares in that excitement.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in,” Gibson said. “It’s an opportunity to reach out to other sports and activity programs.

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity and challenge at the same time. I get to work with the kids, coaches, club members and club advisers and I’m going to do what I can to help them excel and be successful.”

Hagadone explained a series of events led to the creation of an athletics and activities coordinator position.

During the announcement of recent budget reductions, White River High lost its career technical education (CTE) director and its third vice principal, who also served as athletic director.

“I sincerely appreciate the job Julie Melver has done,” Hagadone said of Melver, who was filling that dual role. “I really value her work here.

“We’ll regroup and move forward and make the best of the situation,” Hagadone said.

Assistant Principal Greg Borgerding will assume responsibilities for the CTE program. Assistant Principal Adam Uhler has been moved to the principal’s position at Mountain Meadow Elementary School.

Hagadone said the district will be filling Uhler’s assistant principal position, but also decided to combine its activities program, which Borgerding was overseeing, and athletics into one position. Hagadone said as more students become involved in the school, the activities program, which includes clubs, has been growing.

For many schools those duties are handled by assistant principals who, in the athletic realm, deal with eligibility and safety issues as well as league commitments, in addition to their other duties.

“At a high school you have to have someone’s time available to manage athletics and activities,” Hagadone said.

Gibson will continue to lead the White River High girls basketball team, which has qualified for the Class 3A state tournament nine times under his leadership.

Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.