Kent Victor knew at an early age that he wanted to coach. He loved sports and all that competition entails. Growing up as a kid in Bellingham, Kent competed in football, basketball, and baseball. If you were to ask 10-year-old Kent what his favorite sport was, the answer would be, “Whatever season we are in.” Kent is extremely thankful for all his own coaches, from youth sports to college baseball. Their influence has led to nearly 50 awesome years of continued sports involvement. Kent is known for his passion, love of defense and commitment to his players. In all “Coach Vic” has mentored, encouraged, and motivated middle school and high school athletes in over 80 different seasons and is still at it!
Kent began his coaching career at the age of 19, coaching middle-school age football at the Bellingham Boys and Girls Club. While attending college, Kent continued to coach youth football, basketball, and baseball for both the Boys and Girls Club and Bellingham Parks and Recreation.
During Kent’s student teaching experience at Bellingham High School, he served as a volunteer assistant coach for both football and basketball. Kent is appreciative of the opportunities provided by his first basketball coaching mentors, Ken Crawford and the late LeRoy Galley. At the conclusion of his student teaching experience in March 1982, Kent was a last-minute hire by Ferndale High School as varsity baseball coach. This was the first of four varsity coaching assignments.
With wife Cheryl and two-year-old daughter Brynn, Kent followed his coaching dream to Council, Idaho in the fall of 1982. He was hired as a business education teacher and head basketball coach at Council High School. After two memorable years at Council, Kent and his family moved back to Washington where Kent taught junior high/high school and coached varsity basketball at Mt. Baker. During his time at Mt. Baker, Kent also coached middle school football and baseball. In 1989, Kent entered the administrative world and became Athletic Director at Mt. Baker.
With his four daughters attending school in Lynden, it became important to both Kent and Cheryl, for Kent to seek a position with the Lynden School District. He was hired to teach Business Education in 1993. Kent’s first coaching assignment at Lynden was coaching junior varsity baseball, assisting Cory White. Kent spent more sports seasons with Cory than any other coach (high school baseball, middle school football and middle school basketball). Kent’s final head coaching position occurred at Lynden, where he served as the girls’ varsity basketball coach from 1998 – 2002. Kent has fond memories of all the assistants and former players who went to battle with him in his four head coaching ventures.
In the Spring of 2005, Coach Victor had breakfast with Brian Roper. That breakfast was the beginning of a great friendship. Kent has been an assistant to Brian for 20 years as part of a talented Lynden basketball staff that guided the Lions to seven state titles. Kent knows this honor would not be possible without Brian’s leadership and Kent’s fellow Lion assistants: Mike Elsner, Mike McKee, Blake VanDalen, Brian Heppner, Rod TenKley, Jeb Kratzig, Dan VanBeek, Payton Glasser, and Kobe Elsner. And to the many outstanding basketball players at Lynden, Kent says, “THANK YOU!! You are incredible!!”
The opportunity to stay involved in sports for nearly 50 years would not have been possible without the loving support of Kent’s lovely wife Cheryl and their four beautiful daughters: Brynn, Kendra, Samantha, and Krisandra; truly Kent’s number one team!!!!!