Chiefs' Woll asked not to return to sideline

RONAN — Steve Woll will not be returning as Ronan’s boys basketball coach next season.

Woll said that he was notified by Activities Director Lucky Larson last week that his year-to-year coaching contract would not be renewed for next season, citing his win-loss record as the primary concern. The Chiefs posted a 4-15 record last season.

Neither Larson nor Ronan High School Principal Kevin Kenelty would comment on the issue, citing personnel protocol.

Ronan Superintendent Andy Holmlund did confirm that Woll would not be coaching the Chiefs next season.

“I believe the activities director [Larson] has made a recommendation for a non-rehire at this point,” Holmlund said.

Woll said the decision comes as a disappointment to him and his family.

“I don’t know if words can describe it,” Woll said. “It’s kind of like living a bad dream.”

The Bigfork native has spent the majority of his coaching career in the Mission Valley, having held the head boys position at both Charlo and Mission before moving to Ronan six seasons ago. Woll also runs the Mission Valley 3-on-3 basketball tournaments in Arlee, Ronan and Bigfork in the summer.

“I have a lot of time and effort invested in the program and the community and the school,” Woll said. “I love my job, and I love the community. We decided we wanted to be lifers here. We bought a new house and put our kids in school here.”

Woll said he had been pursued by other schools over the past few years, including his alma mater and newly crowned Class B champion, Bigfork, but that he and his wife had decided Ronan was where they wanted to be.

“I have no regrets on that,” Woll said. “It’s a decision we made this summer and stuck by it.”

Woll’s non-renewal as coach does not necessarily mean that he will not stay in his teaching role at Ronan. He said that, at this point, he isn’t sure if he will remain in that job or pursue coaching opportunities elsewhere.