Coaches/Contributors

Mary Jo Lambert (Tracy), SFCC 1971-1982

Tracy became the first women’s sport coach at SFCC when she was hired in 1968 to coach women’s basketball and volleyball. She also became advisor to the cheerleaders and coached the women’s tennis team. Her 1974 women’s tennis team won the Pine League with an undefeated season and her 1972 team won the NCWSA regional titles in both number one singles and number one doubles. Tracy built a powerful volleyball program that won the NWAACC championship in both the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. She left CCS in 1982 to coach volleyball at Notre Dame University. Tracy has been named to both the CCS and NWAACC Halls of Fame.

Scott Foxley, SFCC 1967 - 1995

Foxley was an outstanding athlete at Pasco High School where he was named to the All-State team in three sports his senior year. He continued his playing career at Washington State College where he earned 11 varsity letters for the Cougars. He started coaching at SFCC in 1967. His women’s basketball teams won two consecutive NWAACC championships in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons. Foxley also coached men’s basketball, baseball, tennis and football in his 28 year coaching and teaching career at SFCC, and his 1976-77 men’s tennis team won the NWAACC championship title. In addition, he was named NWAACC Coach of the Year three times. He has been inducted into both the CCS and NWAACC Halls of Fame.

Jerry Skaife, SFCC 1976-1997

Jerry was an outstanding basketball player at Rogers High School where he earned All-City and All-State honors. He attended Columbia Basin College where he was named NWAACC All-Conference as a player on CBC’s NWAACC Championship teams in 1963 and 1964. He transferred to the University of Idaho and took Big Sky All-Conference honors for two more consecutive seasons. In 1968 he was selected to the AAU All-American first team and invited to the Olympic trials in Colorado Springs. After coaching high school basketball for several years, Skaife came to Spokane Falls Community College in 1976 as head men’s basketball coach. When the two Spokane schools combined their programs in 1978, he assisted the CCS men's team for two seasons and the women's for five more. Spokane’s women won NWAACC titles in 1983 and 1984 with the help of assistant coach Jerry Skaife. Jerry became CCS's softball coach when the program started in 1985 and led them to the NWAACC tournament in each of their first 13 seasons, capturing three NWAACC Championships and finishing runner-up three times. The Sasquatch compiled a 270-72 record in league play and he was selected NWAACC Coach of the Year five times during his tenure. Skaife served ten years as the SFCC Physical Education Department Chair and is a member of the CCS and NWAACC Halls of Fame.

Craig Johnson, SCC 1971-2008

Craig graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1964, where he earned All-City and All State basketball honors. He continued his basketball career at both the University of Idaho and Whitworth College. Upon graduating, Johnson entered the coaching profession at Odessa High School, before he returned to Whitworth as assistant basketball coach under Cal Riemke. In 1971, Craig was selected to begin the development of the basketball program at the newly established Spokane Community College “Sasquatch” campus. He held the head coaching position from 1971-1979, with his teams compiling a 136-85 win/loss record. In his first year at SCC, his team won the 1971-72 Eastern Region Championship. His 1974-75, 1975-76, and 1978-79 teams were all NWAACC Conference Runners-up, and he was named Eastern Region Coach of the Year in 1975-76. In 1981, Coach Johnson became an assistant for the women’s basketball team and served under Scott Foxley with their 1981-82 and 1982-83 teams winning consecutive NWAACC Basketball Championships. He also played an integral role in the development of the Physical Education department at SCC, as both an instructor and the Department Chairman for over 38 years. Craig was inducted into the CCS Hall of Fame in 2006.

John Blake, CCS 1977-2001

John graduated from high school in Phoenix before attending the University of Utah. This was followed by a stint in the Army and service in Vietnam. He then went to Cal Baptist to play college basketball. Blake graduated from Gonzaga University with a business degree and began work in the accounting industry prior to joining the CCS athletic department team. John worked in the CCS Athletic Department for 24 years from 1977 to 2001. He became Assistant Athletic Director to Dr. Maury Ray in 1988 and served in that capacity for 13 years until his retirement in 2001. He also worked with Coach Bruce Johnson as an assistant for the CCS women’s basketball team for ten years. Upon retirement, John became a member of the Bigfoot Booster Club Executive Board and currently remains in that position. Blake’s work ethic, loyalty, and people skills made him a dedicated employee for the Community Colleges of Spokane. John was inducted into the CCS Hall of Fame in 2009 and continues to support and contribute to the Spokane area sports community.

Paul Tikker, CCS 1979-2018

Tikker was an All-League basketball player at Wilbur High School who continued his education and athletic career at Whitworth College. Tikker started teaching and coaching at the Community Colleges of Spokane in 1979. His first coaching assignment was as an assistant for football under Bob Everson and John Buck. During that time Spokane won four NWAACC football championships. Tikker also assisted Sam Brasch in the men’s basketball program from 1979 to 1985 and they won the NWAACC Eastern Region title three years. Paul than served as  the head women’s basketball coach for three years while winning the NWAACC Eastern Region two seasons in a row (1985-86 and 1986-87). Coach Tikker became the head men’s golf Coach in 1988. He held that position for twenty years and built one of the most successful golf programs in the NWAACC. Under his guidance the men’s team became a constant title contender and won numerous NWAACC Eastern Region Championships and 2 NWAACC Conference Championships (1999 and 2002). Tikker started the women’s golf program in 1991-92 and was their head coach for 11 seasons. His women’s teams dominated the NWAACC golf league and his teams won 5 NWAACC Championships (1992, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001). He was named the NWAACC Coach of the Year 11 years during his tenure in golf. Tikker has been selected to both the CCS and the NWAACC Halls of Fame.