Coach Enslin was raised in the Haller Lake area just a block from the present location of Ingraham High School. He attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington. While at Lincoln he tried out for basketball but Coach Bill Nolan had little use for a 5’3″ player.
Jim began his teaching and coaching career at Anacortes Junior High School. Bill Taylor was the high school basketball coach at the time
and he had a big influence on Jim. He was very fortunate to coach a group of players who went on, under Coach Taylor to play in the state championship game two straight years.
In 1955 he moved to the Shoreline School District and coached at Butler Junior High for three years before moving to Shoreline High School as assistant basketball coach, head golf coach and mathematics teacher. For a few years Jim became a school counselor and dropped all coaching, but in 1969 the head basketball coaching position opened at Shorecrest High School and he had the opportunity to become a basketball coach once again and return to the classroom. Jim coached basketball and some golf from ’69-’70 through ’81-’82 years. He was blessed with a run of great young men to work with. They qualified for the state tournament in his first year at Shorecrest and the last eight years.
Upon retiring from Shoreline School in 1982 after 30 years of teaching, Jim was hired to teach and coach at Seattle Prep High School. They placed 3rd1 in state in 1985.
Jim and his wife Joan have been married since 1953 and have four children, Tom,
Teresa, Jamie and Kirk and seven grandchildren.
COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- 10 State Tourney appearances 5 Metro Championships
- 1 Wesco Championship
- 3 District Championships
- 4 Times League Coach of the Year
