Hoops season a new era for Palmer basketball

PALMER — Palmer High School basketball is in a new era.

Both the Moose boys and girls basketball programs entered the 2018-19 season with a new head coach. Former Barrow head coach Jeremy Arnhart was tabbed to lead the boys. Keith Williams, a longtime mentor at the youth and high school levels, was picked to guide the girls. Arhnart and Williams are both busy leading their teams into the heart of the regular season. There is optimism now. But it follows months of uncertainty after both positions were suddenly open following the conclusion of the 2017-18 season.

“Quite honestly, I was on pins and needles all summer,” Palmer High principal Paul Reid said recently.

Former Palmer High girls head coach Elgin Hollins did not return following last season. Former Moose boys head coach Chuck Martin accepted an offer to become the head coach of the East Anchorage boys program in May. That left the Palmer High administration without a leader for each of the school’s basketball programs at the same time. As the administration looked for potential replacements, Reid said there was significant early interest in both Arnhart and Williams. Arnhart had just stepped down as the Barrow boys head coach after leading the Whalers to their third 3A state title in four years. Williams has been a highly respected youth and club coach in Southcentral Alaska.

“I had both of them on my radar,” Reid said.

But the process to bring both to Palmer High took time, Reid said.

“I knew both were outstanding prospects, but a lot of things needed to fall into place to get them,” Reid said.

As Williams stood as a leading candidate for the girls’ job, Reid said called one of his former players, Leya DePriest.

“I reached out to Leya DePriest. (Keith) coached her in AAU ball, and I have a lot of respect for Leya.

Reid was DePriest’s head coach during her freshman year at Palmer.

“She said no offense, but he’s probably the best coach I ever had,” Reid said. “In her second year of college to make that comment, that gave Keith a lot of credit in my eyes.”

DePriest, who started her career at Division I University of Denver, is now a junior at Eastern Washington University.

Reid said hiring Anhart was even more complex. Arnhart’s reputation and accomplishments at Barrow made him a leading candidate. But there was a catch.

“He’s a great candidate, a great teacher. But I didn’t have a spot in the building. I couldn’t make him any promises,” Reid said. “The pieces really needed to fall into place.”

After a teaching position in the physical education department opened, Reid was able to offer Arnhart both a teaching and coaching job.

“The stars had to align a little, come into place,” Reid said.

Reid said the administration is thrilled about both hires.

“Both are champions for kids. There’s nothing more important than surrounding kids with great people,” Reid said.

Both Arnhart and Williams said they are also thrilled with their new roles with Palmer High School.

Arnhart said his wife works in Anchorage, and after leaving Barrow after the 2017-18 school year, he hoped he would find another opportunity with a Southcentral Alaska basketball program.

“Everything fell into place. It’s a really good fit,” Arnhart said.

Williams said he’s also enjoying his new position.

“It’s super exciting. I’m very grateful, totally blessed to have the support of the administration, parents and the players,” Williams said.

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