Kingston girls basketball coach Kevin Strozier resigns

KINGSTON — Kevin Strozier, who led the Kingston High School girls basketball team to the second round of the state finals last year, resigned Nov. 12.

School athletic director Dan Novick said Strozier did not give a reason for his resignation. Calls and a message left on Strozier’s cell phone Monday were not immediately returned.

This year's season starts Dec. 3 at River Ridge High School in Lacey.

The North Kitsap School District has not yet found a replacement for Strozier, District Spokeswoman Chris Case said. Case repeated what Novick said, Strozier did not offer a reason for his resignation.

The district on Monday posted an announcement on its Web site advertising the open coaching position. The deadline for applications is Nov. 20.

Filling in for Strozier until a full-time coach is found is former Bainbridge High School head girls basketball coach Penny Gienger. Novick said Gienger has not expressed interest in taking on the coaching position full time.

Strozier also worked at the school as a campus security officer. As the two-year-old school’s first girls basketball coach, Strozier helped lead the team to the state playoffs two years in a row, finishing last season 15-5.

Despite the abrupt departure, Novick said he does not believe Strozier’s resignation will affect the team’s ability to qualify for the tournament this season.

“I really, very honestly expect our girls to excel again,” Novick said. “I don’t expect their goals will change just because their coaches change.”

In 2007, prior to accepting the position with Kingston, Strozier was suspended from his girls basketball coaching job at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. Strozier had been accused of not following procedures following an altercation between two players at practice.

Following Strozier’s hiring at Kingston, Novick told the Tacoma News Tribune that Strozier had been vetted.

“Our district did its homework,” Novick told the paper. “And we are satisfied that the situation at Lincoln was isolated to Lincoln, and it won’t be repeated here at Kingston."

Herald reporter Andrew Binion contributed to this article