Former Wasilla boys basketball coach heading to Palmer High

PALMER — Palmer High School has named former Wasilla High mentor Jason Marvel the new head coach of the Moose boys basketball program, PHS activities director Jeff Thiede confirmed on Monday.

Thiede said a solid group of applicants applied for the position vacated when former head coach Greg Fullmer stepped down in April. But as strong as some of the other candidates were, Thiede said, Marvel was the unquestioned top choice.

“His reputation speaks for itself,” Thiede said. "He's proven."

A month after leading Wasilla to the 2007 4A state basketball title, Marvel opted to take a step away from coaching hoops at the high school level.

Marvel was succeeded by former Colony assistant Ryan Engebretsen, who finished his first season at WHS in March.

Marvel led the Warriors to five straight trips to the state tourney during his five years at the helm of the WHS program. He also led WHS to two appearances in the state title game.

Marvel spent one season as an assistant in the WHS program before his hire as head coach.

Marvel’s predecessor at PHS, Fullmer, coached the Moose for four seasons.

See the Tuesday edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for the complete story.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.