Palmer High names boys hoops coach

PALMER -- Greg Fullmer took an indirect path en route to his latest head coaching gig. After spending the last two seasons on the Chugiak High School boys' basketball staff, Fullmer initially headed south, before ultimately finding the position he desired a little further north.

Fullmer, formerly a head coach of the Service High School boys' basketball squad for 13 years, was tabbed to be the first head coach in the history of the South Anchorage High School boys' basketball program. But during the summer, Fullmer heard about an opening in Palmer, had a change of heart and submitted his resignation at South to pursue teaching and coaching options in the Mat-Su School District.

This week Fullmer was named head coach of the Palmer High School boys' basketball team. He replaces Brandon Blake who stepped down during the spring to become the school's activities director.

Fullmer, currently a resident of Eagle River, said he prefers the small-town atmosphere and small-town schools rich in athletic tradition, such as Palmer, and he and his family had hoped for a possibility to call a smaller community home.

"It was totally a family decision," Fullmer said. "A long-term thing."

Once Fullmer decided to pursue the Palmer coaching position, his next task was to find a teaching position -- preferably in the PHS building. Fullmer's gamble paid off as a position in his teaching area, social sciences, was vacant and he was given the job.

Blake was thrilled to find a possible successor with the experience of Fullmer in what he calls "definitely qualified group of candidates."

Blake said in addition to his more than 20 years of experience at the 4A level in the state of Alaska, Fullmer's personality and coaching philosophies will make him a quality fit at Palmer High.

"Greg has a ton of energy. He's an extremely positive person," Blake said. "His personality will be a great fit for our school. Plus for the kids he believes in life skills first. He wants to be a winner, but sportsmanship and team play are most important to him."

The virtues which led Blake to chose Fullmer as the next Moose basketball mentor are exactly what Fullmer intends to build as the base of his program. Fullmer inherits a team which won the Region III title, but lost eight seniors, and all five starters, to graduation. Fullmer said, while he can approach the position like a young coach with a clean slate, he intends to use an outlook he learned by experience.

"I feel like a brand new coach, like a young coach, but I don't think I will approach it that way," Fullmer said. "An older coach wants to take the kids you have and make them better by the end of the year."

Fullmer said in addition to his goals of improvement, the game still has to

be fun.

"It's got to be fun," Fullmer said. "We want to have as much fun as we can and teach life skills along the way. No one wants to win as much as the coach and the guys on the team, but you got to make sure you do it right along the way."