Ducheane steps down as Mountlake Terrace girls basketball coach

Deidra Ducheane has resigned after four years as head coach of the Mountlake Terrace girls basketball program because its been difficult to find and retain assistant coaches for the program.

Ducheane, who led the Hawks to four straight 4A District 1 playoff appearances, said she was coaching all three teams at one point this past season after freshman and junior varsity coaches quit, a situation she had found herself in in previous years.

“It was time for me to step down,” Ducheane said. “I love coaching the kids at Terrace. Given the opportunity I’d still be there. (But) it wore me out completely.”

“If you love the sport I don’t mind it,” she said. “(But) it’s a long season, four-and-half months.”

Mountlake Terrace athletic coordinator Kim Stewart, who also coaches fastpitch at Terrace, said finding coaches for the girls program was difficult.

“It wasn’t from lack of effort by any means,” he said. “You put it out there on the WIAA Web site, put out feelers. We were begging people in school and around the district and each year we had difficulty.”

Ducheane said the situation worsened over the years, and said, “I just couldn’t get the support I needed in the building.”

She said the lack of support was “more at the building level. I think the district is overwhelmed.”

Ducheane, who is co-owner of a gym in Lynnwood, said not working at the school during the day and not being in the building, “is probably one of the hardest things.”

“You don’t know the ins and outs of what is taking place,” Ducheane said.

She said she hopes to coach somewhere next year.

“There’s a couple places I’m looking,” she said.

Stewart said the school has at least two applicants. A hire is expected later this month.

“We’re hoping to get it done not this week but next week,” Stewart said.

Mountlake Terrace has never won a state playoff game and last made it to state in 1974, but the program has had more success in recent years.

When asked to name her top accomplishments, Ducheane said, “I think continuously getting the kids to districts. All of the kids I’ve coached have graduated and gone on to college and a couple have played in college.”