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closeAncheta takes over Iverson’s post on the Rogers sidelines
Rogers Rams new boys basketball coach excited about opportunity
Shaun Scott
Rico Ancheta has a rare opportunity to follow in the footsteps of one of his favorite mentors.
When Rogers legendary basketball mogul Rod Iverson hung up his coaching whistle after 20 years with the Rams and 43 years of coaching in the Puyallup School District, Rogers Athletic Director Peter Collins didn’t have to look very far to find his replacement.
Collins recently announced that assistant boys basketball coach Rico Ancheta accepted the boys basketball head coaching position with the Rogers Rams, replacing one of the most well known coaching icons in Puyallup.
The 36-year-old Pacific Lutheran University and Puyallup High School alumnus is looking forward to the opportunity to head up his own program in his hometown. Ancheta was the head coach at Eatonville High School for three years in the early 2000s.
“It’s an honor. I’m really excited about being the head coach here at Rogers,” Ancheta said. ”As far as replacing Rod, I don’t think you can replace a Rod Iverson. I have a ton of respect for Rod and what he’s done for the Rogers basketball program. I just hope I can help continue the tradition he’s built here.”
Collins is thrilled to have Ancheta, who also has been an English teacher at Rogers High School for the past five years, on board as the leader of the school’s basketball program.
“He’s been the JV coach for two years and was a volunteer coach with the Rogers program a year before that,” Collins said. “Rico’s great with kids and has a rich basketball background. He played at a high level in college and has great knowledge of the sport. We’re really excited about the future of the program.”
Iverson believes Ancheta will do a admirable job of leading the program into the future.
“I supported him in getting the job from the beginning,” Iverson said. “I made it clear to the administration that I was hoping Rico would get the job, but they still had to make their own decision.”
Iverson said Ancheta will unveil his own specific stamp of approval on the program.
“Rico has got his own style and works well with kids,” Iverson said. “In two years he won 30 games at the JV level and at the JV level winning isn’t emphasized like it is at the varsity level. He won 30 games and he played every single kid on his roster in every game. He made sure every kid on his team got playing time.”
Iverson thinks Ancheta possesses the right components to lead the Rams to basketball prominence.
“He’s quiet but he has a firmness and toughness to coach at this level,” Iverson said. “But at the same time, kids love playing for the man. He has that kind of combination that will make him successful.”
Ancheta is grateful to have Iverson’s support in his upcoming career endeavor.
“It means a lot to me. I have so much respect for him,” Ancheta said. “Going from an assistant coach to being head coach is a much bigger time commitment. That will probably be the biggest difference, setting up all the summer league basketball and scheduling non-league games. That’s something Rod has been in charge of for years.”
With returning starters Ryan McIntosh and Tim Lewis back in the fold for the 2008-09 season, Ancheta is already looking forward to his first season at the helm.
“We have a good group of hardworking kids. That’s one of the things that makes it really exciting for me,” Ancheta said. “We’re going to work really hard and give it all we can.”