PHS hoops coach steps down

PALMER — After leading the Palmer Moose for the last four years, Greg Fullmer is no longer at the helm of PHS boys’ basketball.

Fullmer and Palmer High School activities director Jeff Thiede confirmed the move on Monday.

“We will be beginning the search for a new boys basketball coach,” Thiede said, declining to speak specifically about the change.

PHS will begin its pursuit of Fullmer’s successor immediately, Thiede said, beginning with a search of interested and qualified candidates within the school.

Fullmer said ultimately he chose to step down, but there are several factors that played into his decision, and he emphasized that he is not done coaching.

“I’m taking a break,” Fullmer said, with a heavy heart. “I’m not done coaching.”

Fullmer said “99 percent” of his four-year tenure at PHS has been wonderful.

“The bottom line is Palmer is a great place to live. There are great people in Palmer. I’ve had a wonderful time here coaching,” Fullmer said. “Great kids, I love coaching them and I’m proud of them.”

But while much of his experience in Palmer was positive, Fullmer said critics of his leadership of the Moose boys basketball program factored into the change.

“There are a few critics in every town,” Fullmer said. “Every coach has them.”

Fullmer, 50, has coached basketball at the high school level for more than 25 years, and is one of several basketball coaches in his extended family. A head coach at Service High School before arriving at Palmer, Fullmer said basketball and coaching are in his family’s blood.

“Basketball’s a passion of mine. It’s been a great thing for my family,” Fullmer said.

Fullmer has three sons — Tanner, T.J., and Trey — who play basketball. Tanner is a graduate of Palmer High School, T.J. completed his senior season in March and Trey will be a sophomore next year.

Fullmer said having the chance to coach his sons in basketball is something he’ll always appreciate.

“It’s been pretty special coaching your own sons, even with the baggage,” Fullmer said.

As a high school coach, Fullmer learned that having a child on your team can lead to pressures and misconceptions. Fullmer said he did not want his youngest son to feel those pressures when he hits the varsity level.

“I don’t think it’s fair to him,” Fullmer said. “I’d rather he go on his own.”

Fullmer said other family reasons also contributed.

Fullmer’s wife faced severe health concerns and underwent surgery during the 2007-08 season, and he wants to devote more time to her as she recovers from that health scare.

“This is in the best interest for my family, kids and me,” Fullmer said. “It’s a combination of personal issues and those critics.”

Although there are those critical of Fullmer, he said he greatly appreciates the positive support he began receiving soon after news of his departure from the team started to spread.

“It’s very positive,” Fullmer said. “Heart-warming.”

Fullmer led the Moose to the x 4A state tournament in each of the last two seasons. After Palmer’s first-round loss in the 2008 Northern Lights Conference Championships in March, the Fullmer-led Moose recorded three-straight wins en route to their second straight trip to Alaska’s big dance.

Fullmer, who is also a teacher at PHS, said he is planning on staying at the school at least through the end of the school year, but said he was unsure about specific plans he may have for the future.

“I’ve got a really nice teaching situation, but I’m a coach,” Fullmer said.

Fullmer said it’s doubtful he’d grab the first coaching opportunity he saw, but he’ll always have his eyes open. Fullmer has had multiple opportunities to take a stab at the college level in the past, and that’s something he said he may like to pursue. Plus, Fullmer said, in three years his youngest son will graduate from high school, and that may allow he and his wife to make a more significant move.

“I’m not done coaching. I’m semi-retired,” Fullmer said.

The search for Fullmer’s replacement will go through three stages, Thiede said. For the next two weeks, PHS teachers can apply for the position. Following that period, employees of the Mat-Su Borough School District have two weeks to apply. After that time the position is opened to applicants outside the school district.

As of Monday afternoon, no coaches had expressed interest in the position, Thiede said.

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