Denny Humphrey’s upbringing in Eastern Washington led to a career in various coaching positions throughout the area. He attended school in Valley, Washington through his junior year and then moved with his family to Reardan, where he graduated in 1958. After marriage and working for a couple years, his neighbor, long time basketball coach, Frank Teverbaugh, encouraged him. Denny attended Spokane Community College from 1964-66 and played basketball for the legendary
Hank Coplen. After earning an AA degree, Denny continued his education at Eastern Washington State college, earning a B.A. degree in physical education in 1968. During his college years, two sons were born to Denny and his first wife. Jay and Keith are currently both raising their families in Spokane. Jay is an assistant basketball coach at Shadle Park H.S. and Keith is in the banking industry. Both sons were 3 sports athletes and played college basketball.
Denny’s 34 year teaching and coaching career started in the B ranks in Lacrosse, where he coached 3 sports from 1968-72. He then spent one year at Chewelah H.S. before settling in Ritzville for a 7 year stint as the head basketball and track coach and assistant football coach. It was here he had the pleasure of coaching his own son, Jay. The opportunity then arose for him to move up into the AA ranks and in 1980, he took the head basketball job at Cheney High School, where his career would continue for the next 22 years. In I 980, he met his wife of 23 years, Bev, and they have two children from this union. His third son, Rhett, and daughter, Lindsey, were also 3 sport athletes at Cheney H.S. Denny was fortunate enough to get to coach Rhett during his career as well. Rhett and Lindsey are currently attending college. One of Denny’s favorite memories from his coaching career was getting the opportunity to coach and watch all four children participate in their athletic endeavors.
Coach Humphrey’s 34 year career as a head basketball coach has brought him many, many rewards. His teams qualified for state basketball tournaments 16 times, including two second place finishes. He was selected Frontier League and Border League Coach of the Year on numerous occasions and District #7 Coach of the Year in 1986. He is currently fourth on the list of Washington State All-Star Winningest Coaches with 552 wins. Denny emphasizes that none of this would have been possible without the support of his family and the outstanding assistant coaches he had. Most of all, he feels extremely fortunate to have coached so many fine athletes, helping these young men become team players and watching them mature into solid and successful adults. His greatest reward of all has been to remain friends with many of these athletes—some from his initial coaching days in 1968.
Denny’s passion for basketball did not end with his retirement in 2002. He has been serving as an assistant on the basketball staff at Eastern Washington University for the past two seasons and recently had the thrill of a lifetime accompanying the 2004 team to “The Dance” for the first time in EWU history. He also enjoys watching his grandchildren play the sport he loves so much.
