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He joins a class of three other coaches to be inducted: Dave Lutes (Kentwood), John O’Rourke (Columbia River) and Del Tally (Okanogan, Sunnyside, Mark Morris, North Beach).
“It’s quite an honor and testament of the coaches and players I’ve had a chance to work with over the years,” Beattie said of the honor. “I was super stunned. I still feel that way. ... It's truly is a great honor."
Beattie’s coaching career began in the early 1980s as an assistant coach at Tenino and Tumwater before landing his first head coaching job at Elma in 1988. He coached the Eagles for seven seasons before taking over at Olympia in 1995. His Bears have won five 4A Narrows League titles since 2005.
When Beattie, 53, thinks back on his 31-year coaching career, his family, community members, coaches and players have been the most important.
“That’s what the award really reflects," Beattie said.
