Girls basketball: Former player takes over as Lady Hilltoppers head coach

Lee Yobbi | The New Mexican

6/27/2008 - 6/28/08

Vicki Nelms didn't use the word replace.

"I don't think you ever replace someone like that," said Nelms, the athletic director at Los Alamos High. "You just kind of hire a person and try to let them make their own mark."

Nelms was speaking of Gerry Washburn, who guided the Los Alamos girls basketball program for 14 seasons and who was part of the team for two decades. She was also speaking about the hire of Tarah Logan on Friday and of giving Logan the opportunity to write a new chapter for the Lady Hilltoppers.

Logan is a former Los Alamos player and an alumnus of the school. (Though then she was known as Kristie Bell. She changed her name when she got married, Nelms said.)

Logan also helped Washburn with summer camps and coached youth basketball. This will be Logan's first head varsity job, but she seems ready.

"Her vision for the program was presented to the (search committee) and what she presented, the plan was really impressive," said Nelms, who was on the committee.

Logan was chosen from among five others who were interviewed. Nelms also took the unusual step of letting the team interview the candidates separately from the search committee.

"It's just what I've always done," Nelms said. "Sometimes kids can see things others can't. It gave them the unique position to ask questions."

Nelms had planned to retain Washburn for a 15th season, but he accepted a job as an assistant principal at Los Alamos Middle and the school district does not allow its administrators to serve as coaches.

Washburn coached 351 games for the Lady Hilltoppers, winning 174. He guided the team to a Class AAAA semifinal in 2006. He thinks Logan has a good chance to succeed.

"I'd hired Tarah as a varsity assistant and she played (at Los Alamos)," Washburn said. "She's a Hilltopper through and through and that's gonna help her out."

Los Alamos was 17-10 last season, including 8-0 in District 2AAAA, and was upset in Griffith Gymnasium in the first round of the Class AAAA State Tournament. The Lady 'Toppers earned the fifth seed in the 16-team field, but were beaten by No. 12 Piedra Vista 45-43.

Logan should have a stable of talent coming back. Only two seniors graduated from last season's 11-player roster.

The challenge will be to replace starting guard Sarah Ethridge, but 5-foot-11 posts Taylor Ealey (14 points per game) and Bryanna Richins (11 ppg) carried a lot of the load last season as a sophomore and junior, respectively.