Ensley’s position as athletic director at Fort Vancouver eliminated due to budget cuts
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
James Ensley was not looking to leave the school that has meant so much to him for most of the past two decades, but life’s twists and turns put him on a new path.
A path home.
“It’s an opportunity to go back home and coach where I grew up,” Ensley said.
Ensley has accepted the position of head coach for the Battle Ground boys basketball program.
“I’m just really grateful for this new opportunity to go back home and get things started,” said Ensley, a 1996 graduate of Battle Ground High School. “I’m a little nervous. I’ve got work to do. It should be exciting.”
But also bittersweet.
Ensley is leaving Fort Vancouver, where he was the boys basketball coach for the past 10 years and was an assistant coach in basketball and other sports for eight previous years. He also ascended to the position of athletic director at the school.
“It changed my whole life,” he said of his time at Fort Vancouver. “My whole outlook on life has been changed from my opportunity to coach at Fort Vancouver High School. I grew up as a person, a coach, a man. The kids have taught me more than I’ll ever teach them about life and perseverance and toughness. It was an amazing experience.”
Vancouver Public Schools, as previously reported, is maneuvering through a $35 million budget shortfall.
Ensley learned recently that his position as athletic director at Fort Vancouver was going to be eliminated. He was told he still has a job with VPS, but the district did not know where Ensley would be placed.
That led Ensley to look for another opportunity, and when his former school had a coaching opportunity, he inquired about the position.
Battle Ground announced Ensley’s hiring as boys basketball coach in an email to staff on Wednesday.
“They’re doing great things,” Ensley said of the Battle Ground athletic department.
He said he is looking forward to learning from football coach Mike Woodward — also a Battle Ground graduate — and baseball coach Seth Johnson. “I’m really excited to go into that with two guys with a lot of experience.”
Also read:
- Camas, Union senior stars ready for playoff push in their final high school basketball seasons
Ethan Harris and Brooklynn Haywood lead Camas and Union into the Class 4A bi-district playoffs with state tournament berths on the line. - Puyallup teen wrestler says school ignored her claim of sex assault by male opponent
Pierce County authorities are investigating a sexual assault allegation involving a Puyallup high school wrestling match. - Watch Seattle’s Super Bowl Celebration Parade on CVTV
CVTV will air live KIRO television coverage of Seattle’s Super Bowl celebration parade for local viewers in Clark County. - Washington governor talks potential return of SuperSonics with NBA commissioner
Gov. Bob Ferguson spoke with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the possibility of bringing the Seattle SuperSonics back as the league weighs future expansion decisions. - Speculation on Seahawks’ sale heats up following proposed WA ‘jock tax’
Speculation about a potential Seahawks sale has intensified amid debate over a proposed Washington income tax that would apply to high-earning athletes and performers.
