By JOSH FARLEY

Staff Writer

POULSBO — Former Whitworth track athlete and coach Dave Snyder has been hired as head coach for the girls’ track and field program at North Kitsap High School in time for the upcoming season.

Snyder, a teacher at Kingston Junior High School as well as as defensive coordinator for the Viking football team was formerly an assistant in the NKHS track program.

“I’m very excited to be in this position,” Snyder said. “We’ve got a great program set up here.”

Snyder said he hopes to bring to the program a technical edge.

“We’ll try to tinker the kids’ technique so they can put the pieces of the puzzle together and find out what works for them,” he said.

NKHS Athletic Director Al Gleich said Snyder brings the girls’ team years of coaching and playing experience.

“(Snyder) brings a lot of expertise to the program,” Gleich said. “He has the ability to coach all areas of track.”

Gleich, who also hired Joan Starr and Tom Driscoll to assist Snyder, said the track program’s coaches mesh well together.

“(Snyder) knows the kids involved and he works well with (boys’ track coach) Tim Adams,” Gleich said. “We’ve hired a very good staff this year.”

Snyder competed at Stadium High School in Tacoma before going to Whitworth College in Spokane. He competed as a Pirate for four years before becoming the division III school’s head coach, also for four years.

The new coach is in his eighth year teaching in the North Kitsap School District at Kingston Junior High School.

Snyder replaces Helen Smith, who resigned this year to spend more time with family.