Coach Jimmy Tuominen also known as Coach T, the head coach of our Prairie High School basketball team, has been named Coach of the Week for the week of February 2. This recognition honors his dedication, leadership, and the outstanding progress of the team this season.
The team currently holds a record of 13-4 and is competing fiercely for both the league title and a district championship. “We had some really good wins against Auburn Mountain View, Annie Wright, and beating the 4A’s in Clark County—that was awesome,” Coach T said. explained.
When asked to describe the season in one word, Coach T chose “Hunter.” “Last year, we were hunting for that league title,” he explained. “This year, it’s a little different. We’re focused on being the hunters—not only in our league but to take the next step and get to the Tacoma Dome for the state tournament.” He emphasized the team’s new mindset: “Now, we’re always going to get the other teams’ best game, so we’re the hunted. The key is to stay humble and hungry and keep that ‘hunter’ mindset,” he said. “Because we know other teams want to take that championship away from us from last year.”
Coach T expressed how much coaching means to him. “I can’t see myself not coaching on a Friday night,” he shared. “This is year 27 for me, and if I wasn’t coaching, I’d probably be spending time with my wife doing something. Usually in the fall, we head up to Seattle to watch college football at the University of Washington. We’ve had tickets for about ten years.” He’s been part of Prairie High School since 2007, initially as an assistant coach, and this is his fifth year as the head coach.
When asked about his influences, Coach T mentioned, “John Wooden comes to mind, but most recently, I really admire Tom Izzo, the head coach at Michigan State. His perseverance, toughness, and grit are incredible.” He added, “You can see how much he cares for his players, and even though he’s tough on them, they really enjoy playing for him.”
A senior captain had some great things to say about Coach T, “he really understands who we are, he is tough on us, but he always makes us better. He pushes us physically and mentally targeting our weaknesses and expressing our strengths” senior captain Ben Nkansah explained.
Coach T remains focused on guiding his team toward success. “It’s been a great season, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” he said. “We’re just working hard every day and trying to finish strong.”
