Moose lure former Warrior

PALMER — After a year hiatus, Jason Marvel is returning to the prep basketball court. But now the former Wasilla High School boys basketball bench boss will be wearing blue.

Palmer High School announced on Monday that Marvel, a coach who guided the Wasilla Warriors to a pair of appearances in the state championship game and the 2007 4A state title during his five years at Wasilla High, is now at the helm of Moose boys basketball.

“I’m really excited about it,” Marvel said on Monday afternoon. “It’s a really good opportunity.”

Marvel, who succeeds former PHS head coach Greg Fullmer, admitted he intended to take a few years off when he decided to take a step away from the Warrior basketball program.

“I did,” Marvel said. “It was my full intention to get a good, solid break.”

But ultimately, the chance to coach varsity basketball once again in the Mat-Su Valley was too good to pass up.

“I had a year hiatus, and it was a good year to spend with my family. It allowed me to reflect,” Marvel said. “I miss the game a lot. My wife and I are established in the Valley, and want to stay in the Valley. There’s only a limited number of jobs to take in the Valley and I didn’t know when the next opportunity would arise if I didn’t take this.”

Marvel also quickly figured out that he really missed coaching basketball. During his year off, Marvel said he only went to two Wasilla basketball games.

“It was tough for me stepping into the gym,” Marvel said. “All the adrenaline comes rushing back. You want to be down there coaching the kids. I realized I’m a coach. It’s where I belong.”

Palmer High School activities director Jeff Thiede said a solid group of coaches applied for the position, but Marvel’s resume, reputation and character separated him from the pack.

“His reputation speaks for itself,” Thiede said. “He’s proven. The other coaches who applied are great and will definitely do good in the future, but we went with Jason because he’s proven.”

Marvel said there are factors that certainly drew him to Palmer High.

“There’s the allure of Palmer basketball,” Marvel said.

Not only did Marvel look at the fact the Moose have qualified for the 4A state tournament in each of the last two seasons, he sees the pipeline of young basketball players that start at Sherrod Elementary, go through Palmer Junior Middle School and on to Palmer High.

“It’s a basketball coaches dream to have that type of feeder program,” Marvel said. “to have the community support Palmer gives their coaches.”

Although he is now a coach at Palmer High, Marvel, at this point, is still a teacher at Wasilla. Thiede said the PHS administration prefers to have head coaches working in the building, but at this point there are no teaching jobs open at PHS.

“It’s nice to have (coaches) in the building, but we can’t make room for him right now, unless something happens,” Thiede said. “You never know though, especially in this district. People come and go.”

Marvel said it would be tough to coach at one high school and teach at another, but is willing to make it work.

“It’ll be difficult, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice, to get back to the game I love,” Marvel said.

After six years in the Wasilla basketball program, — five as head coach — he expects it to be a little unusual when he takes the Palmer court as head coach for the first time and visits Wasilla as a Palmer coach.

“It’ll be different. I can’t say it won’t be different,” Marvel said. “I’ve always taught my students and my own children, life is about opportunities. I don’t think anyone would fault a person for taking an opportunity. I wanted it, and my family wanted it for me.”

Marvel compiled a record of 101-41 during his tenure with the Warriors. He led WHS to three Northern Lights Conference titles and was named the NLC coach of the year twice.

Marvel’s predecessor, Fullmer, led the Moose to the 4A state tournament in each of the final two seasons of his four-year coaching tenure at Palmer High.

“Greg left the program in really good shape,” Marvel said. “I really hope to go into the job and do what we did at Wasilla.”

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