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Coeur d'Alene High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Inland Empire League
Classification: 5A
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Head Coach: Shawn Amos
Years as Head Coach: 18th Season
Previous Experience: Head Coach at Kellogg High School
Record Last Year: 7-4
State Titles: 1982, 1985, 2010, 2011, 2013
Assistant Coaches:
Jeff Vesser (DC)
Ron Nelson (OC)
Dustin Shafer (OL)
Corey Brown (OL)
Tony Carrico (WR)
Derek Edwards (LB)
Brian Holgate (DL)
Returning Players:
Brian Skinner, RB/S, 12
Austin Lee, QB, 12
Henry Gustin OL/DL 12
KC Hutchings WR 12
Nate Jensen OL/DL 12
Griphen Le RB/LB 12
Dylan Lockwood LB 12
Alec Seibold WR/DB 12
Caden Bonacci WR/DB 12
Isaiah Skinner OL/DL 11
Returning Players with Honors:
Austin Lee 1st Team All-League
Nate Jensen All-League
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Photo By: Loren Orr - #23 Brian Skinner
“Key Players” lost from last year:
Drew Berger (RB/LB)
Ryan Walde (WR/DB)
Myles Flanigan (OL/LB)
Gibson Green (RB/LB)
Incoming “impact” players:
Colson Yankoff, WR/QB, 10
Caleb Beggerly, RB/LB, 10
Isaiah Skinner, OL/DL 11
Colin Richards WR/LB 12
Gaige Howard WR/DE 11
Joey Naccarato WR/DE 11
James Kile WR/DB 12
Cole Ramseyer WR/DE 10
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Team Preview:
Written by: Will Hoenike (@willhoenike)
Let’s recap the last few years for head coach Shawn Amos and the Coeur d’Alene Vikings.
In 2014, the Vikings won seven games, reaching the 5A state quarterfinals. In 2013, the team edged Highland for the 5A state championship. In 2012, the Vikings reached the championship game, falling to Madison. In 2011, they overwhelmed the 5A classification en route to an undefeated state championship. In 2010, they lost just once – to a highly-touted team from Washington – on its way to another state championship.
Three state titles (and a fourth title appearance) in the past five years in Idaho’s largest school classification. That puts the Vikings squarely in the conversation as one of the top two or three elite programs in the Gem State.
Of course, such lofty success doesn’t happen by accident and Amos knows that his team wears one of the biggest bulls-eyes in the entire state. That won’t change this season.
Coeur d’Alene returns good talent, led by All-Inland Empire League quarterback Austin Lee. As a junior, Lee threw for over 3,000 yards and was intercepted just five times, leading a potent Viking offense that scored close to 40 points per game.
Lee returns pass-catching targets KC Hutchings, Alec Seibold and Caden Bonacci with senior Colin Richards headlining a group of other receivers looking to step into larger roles this season. Lee also has running back Griphen Le – same pronunciation, just one less “E” – back. Le averaged over five yards per carry as a junior, he and senior Brian Skinner (two TD receptions in ’14) will look to fill the shoes of Drew Berger, who is now playing football at Boise State, and Gibson Green.
Protecting the passer and ball-carriers are returning offensive linemen Nate Jensen (an All-IEL pick as well), Henry Gustin and Isaiah Skinner.
Defensively, Coeur d’Alene faltered a bit down the stretch, giving up 40 points per contest over its final four games of the season. But the group was solid early, holding six of its first seven opponents to 21 points or less. Vikings faithful certainly hope to see more games like the first seven than the final few and it appears the pieces are in place.
Jensen and Gustin return along the defensive line in front of linebackers Le and Dylan Lockwood. Juniors Gaige Howard and Joey Naccarato provide depth and options at the defensive end position while Richards and sophomore Caleb Beggerly could be contributors at linebacker.
The Vikings have experience in the secondary, with Skinner returning at the safety position. Seibold and Bonacci are also expected to play roles in the defensive backfield along with newcomer James Kile.
Amos and his staff have never been shy about challenging their team with tough non-conference games. This season is no exception. After opening at home against Skyline of Idaho Falls, the Vikings will face three straight talented opponents from neighboring Washington: Central Valley, Ferris and Moses Lake. Each of the three will be played on the opponent’s home field.
The Vikings will then travel to Holt Arena in Pocatello to face defending 5A state champion Highland, another one of those “elite” Idaho programs, on September 25.
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