Goldie named new Mustangs’ head coach

The Redmond High School (RHS) athletic program has recently named Sara Goldie the new head coach of the girls’ basketball team, replacing Dennis Edwards, who will remain on staff as a volunteer assistant coach.

“I hope that she can continue the tradition, as it’s been a strong girls’ basketball program,” said John Appelgate, RHS athletic director. “In the past we’ve had a couple years where I know the team hasn’t achieved to the level that they wanted to as far as wins and losses, but that’s certainly not a measure of an unsuccessful program.”

Goldie, a graduate of Eastlake High in 1997, has nine years of coaching experience including the last three as the Wolves’ varsity assistant. She also coached at Redmond under Pat Bangasser for one season in 2005-2006.

Former head coach Edwards will stay on staff on a volunteer basis to help Goldie get acclimated to her new surroundings in her first head-coach campaign.

“(Edwards) is doing a lot with helping Sara learn the ropes of a head coaching position,” Appelgate explained. “It’s Sara’s program now, but Dennis is around to lend support where he can.”

Goldie comes from a basketball family, as her parents Shahla Rowhani and Mo Lofti both played on the Iranian National Team for nine years during the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Goldie herself played on two state-tournament placing teams at Eastlake, and currently lives in Duvall with her husband Sean and young son Payton. She currently teaches Health and Physical Education at Inglewood Junior High.

The program also welcomes two new assistant coaches, Megan Reinhart, who will coach the junior varsity team, and Bradley Clapp, who will be working as an assistant with the varsity players.

“They bring some youthful enthusiasm,” Appelgate said of his new coaches. “Megan was a successful athlete at Blanchet High School, very energetic, enthusiastic and excited to be coaching basketball.”

Clapp, a former student of Appelgate’s when he taught at Juanita, has experience playing pro baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system as a pitcher.

“He’s still pitching in the Pirates organization, so he knows what it takes to compete athletically at the highest level,” Appelgate said of Clapp. “He brings that experience along with a good basketball knowledge.”