Head Coach - Bill Mendelson

mendyx5@comcast.net

Bill Mendelson enters his third year as the head coach of the Men's Basketball program. Last season, Coach Mendy led the Raiders to their most successful season in school history, compiling a 23-9 record (most wins ever), finishing in second place in the Western Division (11-5 league record), and earning a best-ever Second Place finish at the NWAACC Conference Championship Tournament.

Mendelson came to Pierce after eight very successful seasons at South Puget Sound Community College, where he coached the women for six seasons ('95-'01) and the men for two seasons ('01-'03). He took seven Clipper teams to post-season play, where his women placed fifth in 2001, and the men placed eighth in 2002. While at SPSCC he compiled an overall record of 132-103.

Mendelson is in his twenty-ninth year at North Thurston High School, where he teaches physical education and driver's training. At North Thurston he has served in a variety of coaching capacities, including; Varsity Girls Basketball (10 years), Varsity Golf (11 years), Freshman Football (11 years), Assistant Boys Basketball (5 years), Assistant Track (3 years), and Assistant Varsity Football (3 years).

He earned his bachelor's degree from Western Washington University, where he played quarterback for the Vikings. He led the conference in passing in '74, and in total offense in '75. In his senior season ('75), Mendelson was selected team MVP, first-team all-conference, first-team all-district, and second-team all-northwest.

Born in New York, Coach Mendy now resides in Olympia with his wife Lise. The Mendelson's have three children; Michelle, Stacy, and Nick.