Bulldogs name Chase Tigert new head baseball coach

Former baseball prospect brings

college coaching experience

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — He’s already helped build a college athletic program from the ground up, and now he’s hoping to help build a winner in Sandpoint, as Chase Tigert was named the new head baseball coach at Sandpoint High School last week.

Tigert, 28, was most recently an assistant baseball coach and the Director of Athletics at the University of Antelope Valley, a brand new NAIA athletic program in California. He helped lead the team to a 50-12 record in the first two seasons, before recently relocating to Sandpoint to raise a family.

Tigert, who currently teaches PE at Farmin-Stidwell Elementary, succeeds Scott Fitchett as head coach, and will eventually take a teaching position at Sandpoint High School. He’s excited to coach in a community that values high school sports.

“We’re excited to be here, it’s an amazing place. There’s a buzz in the air about athletics in Sandpoint. It’s different than anywhere I’ve been,” said Tigert, who grew up in the baseball hotbed of California. “The community is proud to support their Bulldogs. I’m excited to be part of that family and share that experience.”

Tigert brings a pitching background to the position, and not too long ago was a prized major league pitching prospect. At 6-foot-6, and featuring a fastball that topped out at 95 miles per hour, Tigert had a successful career as a college starter and closer.

He received a full-ride scholarship to play baseball at Division 1 University of San Francisco, after a prep career that saw him hit .505 as a senior while also excelling on the mound.

He would eventually transfer to Cal Lutheran, where he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in Division III baseball. He drew heavy interest from the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros, but an injury his senior year derailed his pro prospects.

The strong baseball résumé made the choice for Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles easy.

“Chase brings high level playing experience at the Division I and Division III levels and high level coaching experience,” said Bulldogs Athletic Director Kris Knowles. “We are exited to have such a high character person show interest in our baseball program at SHS and welcome him aboard.”

Tigert and his wife and young daughter were looking to relocate and decided to visit Sandpoint. A scheduled two-day stay quickly turned into four, and it wasn’t long before they felt like it was a great place to raise a family.

Tigert’s also excited to get back into coaching the game he loves. He was asked what his strengths as a coach were.

“Bring the ability to help players continue to grow, leave the program better citizens,” said Tigert. “Grow both on the field and in the classroom, be proud of your high school career. Give everything you have at all times.”