NEAH BAY — Stan Claplanhoo has been suffering since leading Neah Bay to its first-ever basketball state championship.
The Red Devils finally brought the Gold Ball trophy to Neah Bay in March after decades of making nearly annual trips to Spokane for the B and Class 1B state boys basketball tournaments.
But the euphoria of victory soon gave way to the agony of disease.
So after five seasons — three as an assistant and two as head coach — Claplanhoo has resigned as the Red Devils’ coach.
Claplanhoo, 47, announced his departure in a Facebook post Monday evening.
He wrote that he was diagnosed with vasculitis 10 years ago.
According to the Vasculitis Foundation, vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels, arteries, veins or capillaries that causes tissue damage. It’s also painful, and the pain has become too much for Claplanhoo.
“A flare up can last for months, and I have been seriously disabled since mid-March,” Claplanhoo wrote.
“Although I am slowly recovering, this is a progressive and painful disease.”
Claplanhoo works as a commercial fisherman, and he told the Peninsula Daily News that after the commercial halibut season, he realized it was time to focus on his health, and that he should step down as Neah Bay’s coach.
“It wasn’t really that hard because of I’ve been fighting this for years,” Claplanhoo said of his decision Tuesday.
He said the bus rides were particularly painful for him.
Claplanhoo played at Neah Bay in the 1980s, during which time he became a member of the 1,000-point club — “Before the 3-point line,” he proudly wrote in his Facebook post. He also was part of three state tournament teams.
When his son, Jongi, was a freshman in the 2011-12 season, Claplanhoo applied and was hired to serve as an assistant coach to Gerrad Brooks.
Under the stewardship of Brooks and Claplanhoo, the Red Devils finished second at state once and placed third twice.
When Brooks stepped away after the 2013-14 season, Claplanhoo was hired as his replacement.
In Claplanhoo’s first year, Neah Bay placed second at state, losing to Lummi in the 2015 championship game.
Then, this past season, the Red Devils shocked and rocked top-ranked Almira/Coulee-Hartline 73-48 in the 1B championship game.
Not surprisingly, that ranks as Claplanhoo’s favorite coaching moment.
“We were able to bring home that Gold Ball for the community,” Claplanhoo said.
“That meant a lot to the alumni out here . . . and the younger generation.”
Claplanhoo also is the only coach to lead a team from the North Olympic Peninsula to a state title.
Neah Bay athletic director Michael Brunstad said that he was aware of Claplanhoo’s health issues and therefore wasn’t caught off-guard Monday when he received a resignation letter.
“He did a great job,” Brunstad said. “He put a lot of dedication into it.
“I thought he did wonderful job. I’m real pleased with what he did.”
Brunstad said that he will first look within the Cape Flattery School District for Claplanhoo’s replacement.
That includes Claplanhoo’s assistant coach, Ben Maxson. Brunstad said he has encouraged to Maxson to apply for the opening.
Claplanhoo said that Maxson would be a good choice.
Whoever it is, Claplanhoo said the main requirement for the job is caring about the kids. And dedication.
“It’s a lot of work, a lot of time,” Claplanhoo said.
“You miss out on a lot of fishing. You miss out on a lot of things.
“But it’s really worth it. I have a lot of great memories with the kids. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Brunstad said he will make sure the Red Devils will have someone to coach them in the high school summer league at Peninsula College.
Claplanhoo said he’ll still be around the game of basketball. He plans to coach his 13-year-old son Captain in Native American tournaments.
“I’ll never be away from the game,” Claplanhoo said.
And he’ll still be around the Red Devils.
“In the end, I am going out on top and will forever remain the Red Devils’ number one fan,” Claplanhoo wrote in his Facebook post.
“None of this would have been possible without our extremely talented athletes in Neah Bay.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
