Whatcom County has two new head coaches, both with local ties. Ben Zakheim will head up the Mount Baker boys program, and Terri Yost takes over the Ferndale girls program.
MOUNT BAKER BOYS COACH BEN ZAKHEIM
BACKGROUND: Grew up in town of Freeman just south of Spokane; baseball standout and 2012 graduate of Freeman High School. Attended Eastern Washington University for two years, and graduated from Western Washington University with a business degree. Works as a para educator at Mount Baker.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Coached combined Squalicum-Sehome JV softball team, assisted with Squalicum baseball team; coached Sehome JV girls basketball team past two years.
QUOTES: “I’m excited about returning to boys sports. There is unbelievable support and interest in sports and especially basketball in Whatcom County. With any young coach, the biggest challenge is the X’s and O’s … seeing different things (you’ve never seen before). But with experience comes better insight.”
FERNDALE GIRLS COACH TERRI YOST
BACKGROUND: Grew up in Whatcom County; three-sport standout at Mount Baker High School, class of 2005; starter on basketball teams that placed third in state in 2004 and fourth in 2005. Works as operations manager at Cloud 9 Sports.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Assisted her basketball coach, Brenda Ellis, at Mount Baker; coached several AAU and select teams, and the Ferndale C team for one year; girls basketball head coach at Mount Vernon the past two seasons, qualifying for 4A playoffs last year.
QUOTES: “Basketball is alive up here (in Whatcom County). I know the people and the competition up here, and the kids from coaching them in school. I want to place my own team chemistry on the program … new plays, change things up.”
