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Unhappy Norwood leaves

RIVER RIDGE: Third coach in five years leaves Hawks girls hoops program despite 37-14 record and winning state title

By Meg Wochnick | The Olympian • Published May 13, 2009

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River Ridge girls basketball coach Curtis Norwood, who led the Hawks to the Class 2A state championship in 2008 and a state tournament appearance in March, resigned Tuesday.

“To everything there is a season, and I think my season at River Ridge has come and gone,” Norwood said. “It’s time for a new venue and new challenges.

“It’s time for me to leave. But I still leave with a heavy heart because I had some unfinished business.”

River Ridge principal Karen Remy-Anderson said she couldn’t confirm Norwood’s resignation because she hadn’t received anything formal in writing.

“I do appreciate all that he does for our team,” Remy-Anderson said.

Change at the head coaching position has been a constant for River Ridge despite the team’s recent success.

Kevin Estes, who preceded Norwood, stepped down after two seasons because of family issues despite leading the school to its first state title in 2007.

Bill Wirtzberger, who took over a winless team, left under pressure after three seasons in 2005 after leading River Ridge to a 26-1 record and an appearance in the Class 3A state title game.

Norwood, River Ridge’s third coach in the last five years, said he was frustrated by a lack of support from the school’s administration, citing how the school forced him to have open practices this past season.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Norwood said. “When I took the job, I was told I was the head basketball coach. I did not know I had to be a crisis manager.”

Norwood, who previously coached at Centralia for three seasons, went 37-14 at River Ridge, including winning a state title in his first year when the Hawks beat Ellensburg, 43-42, in the final.

In March, a young River Ridge team went 0-2 at the state tournament in Yakima to snap its 11-game state tournament win streak that dated back to 2006.

Four of the five starters for the Hawks were underclassmen and the team did not have a senior on the roster.

Norwood, who doesn’t teach at the school, didn’t rule out coaching again and described his time at River Ridge as “rewarding.”

“I enjoyed my time with my teams,” Norwood said. “I only take away the positives. I leave the negatives where they lie.

“I hope for the best for the girls and the program.”

Staff writer Gail Wood contributed to this story.