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Mar. 7—SPOKANE — Life works in mysterious ways. Just ask Eric Swanson.
Two years ago, he thought he walked off the Spokane Arena court after 33 years as head coach at Toutle Lake. His final game was against Adna in a consolation contest. He was able to go out with his then-senior son for the Ducks, Zach Swanson.
Yet once Adna's 2025 season ended, Luke Salme and Eric Swanson were chit-chatting and the conversation turned to seeing if the two C2BL coaching compadres would team up on the sidelines.
"He'd only been out for a year and said at the end of last season, 'Can I just come watch a practice,'" Salme, the Pirates head coach said. "I said sure, then he was hooked."
Hook, line and sinker.
From three decades of being on opposite ends to one year joined at the hip, Salme and Swanson created the ultimate coaching powerhouse that helped the No. 9 Pirates reach their first Class 2B boys state championship game in program history on Friday night.
For Swanson, he couldn't have imagined a practice viewing experience could turn into his fifth state title game as coach.
"There's a couple things I'd still like to do (while) I'm retired," Swanson said. "Told him I'd think about it for a day... The schedule worked. I've always respected Luke and I thought about it and told him I would.
"One circumstance: I'm all-in. It is all or nothing."
Since Zach Swanson was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, him being away allowed Eric Swanson some relief after 500-plus wins at Toutle Lake. Still, an itch to come back never went away.
And after seeing a practice, and seeing more of what this Adna group could accomplish, Swanson couldn't stay away from the seat. He plops down in the first assistant coach chair.
"These kids have bought in and absorbed what we've taught them," Swanson said. "We're playing our best basketball than we've had all year."
Perhaps the biggest influence Swanson had in the 63-53 win over No. 6 Reardan came in the first quarter. Out of a timeout, the Screaming Eagles ended an 11-0 Adna run with a 3-pointer. The Pirates were in a zone defense.
They proceeded to plan man-to-man the remainder of the night.
"It only took one time for Swanee to threaten to tackle me (to switch back to man defense)," Salme quipped. "We developed a bond through coaching against each other, which is one of the coolest things in coaching."
Most of the time, Swanson has "free reign" to speak his mind and offer advice. Still, he always defers to his buddy.
"Luke is a great X-and-O guy," Swanson said. "He's great to work with. It was an easy fit."
It will be Salme's first state title appearance as a coach against No. 1 and unbeaten Colfax. Swanson went to four in Toutle Lake — two in the 1As and two in the 2Bs — but is 0-4.
"It is great; all about the kids," Swanson said. "You remember everything, the good, the bad, so it is pretty special."
Adna went through a run unlike any other to get to the final 2B game on Saturday afternoon. It ran off six straight wins and the defense has been the focal point of why it will finish no worse than second.
Swanson has gotten a front row seat to it all. A year away from the sidelines has made this unlikely run all that more exciting.
"They've worked their tails off and they deserve to go play in this game and this atmosphere," he said.
Continue reading...
Two years ago, he thought he walked off the Spokane Arena court after 33 years as head coach at Toutle Lake. His final game was against Adna in a consolation contest. He was able to go out with his then-senior son for the Ducks, Zach Swanson.
Yet once Adna's 2025 season ended, Luke Salme and Eric Swanson were chit-chatting and the conversation turned to seeing if the two C2BL coaching compadres would team up on the sidelines.
"He'd only been out for a year and said at the end of last season, 'Can I just come watch a practice,'" Salme, the Pirates head coach said. "I said sure, then he was hooked."
Hook, line and sinker.
From three decades of being on opposite ends to one year joined at the hip, Salme and Swanson created the ultimate coaching powerhouse that helped the No. 9 Pirates reach their first Class 2B boys state championship game in program history on Friday night.
For Swanson, he couldn't have imagined a practice viewing experience could turn into his fifth state title game as coach.
"There's a couple things I'd still like to do (while) I'm retired," Swanson said. "Told him I'd think about it for a day... The schedule worked. I've always respected Luke and I thought about it and told him I would.
"One circumstance: I'm all-in. It is all or nothing."
Since Zach Swanson was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, him being away allowed Eric Swanson some relief after 500-plus wins at Toutle Lake. Still, an itch to come back never went away.
And after seeing a practice, and seeing more of what this Adna group could accomplish, Swanson couldn't stay away from the seat. He plops down in the first assistant coach chair.
"These kids have bought in and absorbed what we've taught them," Swanson said. "We're playing our best basketball than we've had all year."
Perhaps the biggest influence Swanson had in the 63-53 win over No. 6 Reardan came in the first quarter. Out of a timeout, the Screaming Eagles ended an 11-0 Adna run with a 3-pointer. The Pirates were in a zone defense.
They proceeded to plan man-to-man the remainder of the night.
"It only took one time for Swanee to threaten to tackle me (to switch back to man defense)," Salme quipped. "We developed a bond through coaching against each other, which is one of the coolest things in coaching."
Most of the time, Swanson has "free reign" to speak his mind and offer advice. Still, he always defers to his buddy.
"Luke is a great X-and-O guy," Swanson said. "He's great to work with. It was an easy fit."
It will be Salme's first state title appearance as a coach against No. 1 and unbeaten Colfax. Swanson went to four in Toutle Lake — two in the 1As and two in the 2Bs — but is 0-4.
"It is great; all about the kids," Swanson said. "You remember everything, the good, the bad, so it is pretty special."
Adna went through a run unlike any other to get to the final 2B game on Saturday afternoon. It ran off six straight wins and the defense has been the focal point of why it will finish no worse than second.
Swanson has gotten a front row seat to it all. A year away from the sidelines has made this unlikely run all that more exciting.
"They've worked their tails off and they deserve to go play in this game and this atmosphere," he said.
Continue reading...
