ELKHART, Ind. - Elkhart girls basketball head coach Will Coatie is switching roles. Coach Coatie is set to lead the boys varsity team starting next season.

Coatie replaces Kyle Sears, who resigned as head coach at the end of the 2022-2023 season.

“I take my responsibility as a coach very seriously as I get the opportunity to help shape all my players into new leaders, successful adults, and good citizens,” said Coatie. “I am confident that this team will stand out and achieve great things both on and off the court. This will be a commitment to excellence and we just need to trust the process. It's a great day to be a Lion.”

Coatie has been the Elkhart High girls coach for the last three years and was the girls varsity coach at Elkhart Central for eight years before that.

He was named the Northern Indiana Conference coach of the year for the 2022-2023 season.

“Coach Coatie established a strong foundation and a high expectation for discipline and competition in our girls basketball program,” said Elkhart High School Principal Cary Anderson. “He consistently demonstrates care and concern for our student-athletes in and out of season while upholding a standard for behavior of his athletes on the court, in the classroom, and throughout our community that will serve our boys program well. He has exhibited the ability to teach the game of basketball in several different settings and various age levels throughout his career and shows a tremendous loyalty to our school and the city of Elkhart.”