Lambert trustees unanimously rehire coach Rocky Nelson after parent concerns about communication

Lambert trustees voted unanimously March 31 to rehire Rocky Nelson as the head high school girls basketball coach for the 2026–2027 school year following public comment and a review by the athletic director.

The vote came after Lambert Superintendent and athletic director Kara Triplett told the joint meeting of Lambert and Richey trustees that Rocky’s evaluation raised “concerns regarding communication” and that, under the district’s chain of command, “as soon as he becomes aware of a concern he must address the concerns immediately.” Triplett said she found Rocky receptive to feedback and recommended he work on varying his communication and motivation methods to meet different players’ learning styles.

Parents and community members offered mixed views during the public-comment period. Brent Carda said he was “appalled” by conduct at a prior meeting and said an attendee had “said that he hated half of the people in attendance at the meeting,” calling on the Board to require an apology to the girls who were present. Gary Hill, whose daughters play for the team, disputed the characterization of the earlier remark, saying the word “hate” was never used and that Rocky had contacted him to discuss a separate comment to his daughters and they had worked it through. Trustee Rodney Evenson said he polled nine people and found seven in favor of rehiring Rocky and two opposed.

Coach Rocky Nelson responded to concerns, saying players who are not comfortable speaking to him can talk with his assistant and that he had spoken with player Tayen after parents raised issues; according to Nelson, Tayen told him she was "alright." Richey board members Nicole Keller and Danielle Servais thanked Nelson for attending the meetings and for trying to engage with players and families.

On the motions, Trustee Rodney Evenson moved to rehire Nelson as head coach; Trustee Cheyanne Rauschendorfer seconded the motion, and the board voted "Aye" unanimously. Trustees then approved a separate motion by Rauschendorfer, seconded by Trustee Sara Huft, to offer junior-high and elementary girls basketball coaching positions for 2026–27: Mackenzie Rask as junior-high head coach and elementary assistant, Jacalyn Wright as junior-high assistant, and Shaleigh Irigon as elementary head coach. That motion also passed unanimously.

The board noted one procedural issue: an assistant high-school girls basketball contract could not be offered to Malori Beery because a required Notice of Nepotism had not been posted in a timely manner. The record states the district could not extend that assistant contract at this time because of the missing notice.

The special joint meeting of Lambert and Richey school trustees began at 6:00 PM at the Richey School Library and was adjourned at 6:58 PM after the votes.

Next steps: the district will proceed with the approved coach contracts for 2026–27 and the superintendent and athletic director indicated they will work with Coach Nelson on the communication steps discussed during the meeting.