Rich Skillman at the 2012 NAIA national championships
Skillman Named Head Coach at Alma Mater
EVERSON, Wash. - Nooksack Valley High School principal Matt Galley announced on Wednesday, May 18, that the Pioneers have selected former standout player and Northwest University graduate, Rich Skillman, to be the school's new boys' basketball coach.
Skillman joins a pair of former Eagle basketball players who are now head coaches at the high school level in Washington. Blake Solomon (NU '10) is the boy's coach at Kentwood High School, who guided his team to the title game at the 2016 4A WIAA State Tournament and Tyler Mendezona (NU '12) is the boy's head coach at the Bear Creek School in Redmond which competes in the 1A Emerald City League.
Skillman has worked for the Nooksack Valley School District the past two years, serving as a middle school PE teacher and an assistant basketball coach.
"He brings a strong playing background to the table, as well, playing four years at Northwest University," Galley said in a press release. "He is also a true Pioneer, having grown up, graduated, and returned to the area."
Skillman graduated from Nooksack Valley in 2008 and earned Northwest Conference Most Valuable Player honors and was named to the WIBCA (Wash. Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assoc.) Washington All-State Team that played in the Northwest Shootout against the Oregon all-state team. He was also the 2008 WIBCA 1A Player of the Year and played in the WIBCA all-state game.
Rich started and played for NU head coach, John Van Dyke and the Eagles for four seasons, playing in two NAIA Division II national championship tournaments in Missouri and was a member of the 2011-12 Cascade Collegiate Conference co-championship team. In his senior season, he was named the Cascade Conference Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-CCC, a CCC Scholar Athlete, NAIA DII National Championships All-Tournament team member and an NAIA 3rd team All-American. Skillman scored 1,147 career points and recorded 237 career steals. He was No. 3 in the NAIA in steals in 2008 with 95, No. 1 in the NU school record book.
"I am extremely proud of Rich being named head coach at his former high school," stated NU head coach, John Van Dyke. "I'm confident he will do a great job and will be a positive leader and role model for the young men he coaches. Rich was a joy to coach here and was a key contributor to all of our successes during the years he was with us."