Nalin Sood has a strong sense of roots and loyalty, hence his 31 years, and counting, of coaching at Mountlake Terrace High School. His parents, coming from London, settled in Mountlake Terrace in 1968. Some of Nalin’s earliest memories are being with his dad listening to Bob Blackburn and Sonic basketball games on the radio, falling in love with the sport. Another pivotal memory is when his parents went to support the Mountlake Terrace Men’s basketball team on their 1977 State Title celebration. They brought him back a flyer with a picture of the team and his roots grew deep from those early memories.
Nalin would go on to be a Hawk, playing from 1983 to 1987 under Hall of Fame Coach, Roger Ottmar. As a player he took in all he could from Coach Ottmar before moving on to Edmonds Community College. As a participant in that program, he would again learn from another Hall of Fame Coach, Keith Kingsbury. This is where he developed his eye for detail and analytical approach to the game, picking Coach Kingsbury’s basketball mind as much as he could. All the while he was also coaching Track at Mountlake Terrace High School and continued to do so from 1987-2000. Then in 1989, the JV position for the Men’s basketball team opened up at Mountlake Terrace High School. Roger Ottmar knew who he wanted, an inquisitive and energetic 20 year old, Nalin Sood. This time, as a fellow Coach, he would take in all he could learn from Coach Ottmar, while developing his own style and system of success. In his tenure as the JV coach from 1989 to 2000, he would earn his B.A. in Business Technology from Central Washington University and his Masters Degree from Grand Canyon University. He has been teaching Business Technology at MTHS for over 21 years.
In the year 2000, Nalin became the 3rd Men’s Basketball Coach in Mountlake Terrace’s history. The other two were, Merle Blevins and Coach Ottmar. Humbled and determined to continue the success of the previous coaches, Nalin implemented what he had been learning from his previous mentors and friends. In his first five years, 2000 – 2005, Mountlake Terrace went to the playoffs each season; they were Wesco South Champions four times and played in the State Tournament three times, twice at 3A and once at 4A, taking 3rd place in the 2004-2005 season. In 2008-2009, they would reach the State Tournament again after collecting the title of Wesco South Champs. In the next nine years, until present, the Hawks would reach the playoffs eight times, earning the Wesco South Championship Title four times, Northwest District Championship Title in 2011-2012, and participating in five 3A State Tournaments, reaching 4th place in 2012-2013. They would also have two more appearances at the 2A State Tournaments, for a total of 7 times in 9 years. In all of this success on the court, Coach Sood would emphasize more than the wins on the scoreboard. He’s always believed in feeling comfortable in your own skin and not settling for mediocrity, but striving for greatness, in the classroom and in your relationships, just as much as on the basketball court.
It has always been his goal to help young men be their best on and off the court. Nalin holds high standards for their academic endeavors, encourages them to tutor at local elementary schools, write thank you cards to those that support them, serve as counselors at the 20+ year running Terrace Kids Summer Basketball Camp and give their time collecting for causes like “Coaches vs. Cancer”. He also brings back former players to share their stories and inspire his current players. Building relationships with his players and teaching them how to build their own positive relationships is an important part of playing at Mountlake Terrace High School. Relationships, roots and loyalty are seen in the stands at home and away games. On
any given Tuesday and Friday you can see former players, teachers, community leaders and coaches there to support Nalin and the Mountlake Terrace Men’s Basketball Team.
Along with teaching and coaching, Nalin has a very strong commitment supporting the profession of Coaching. Nalin has been the President/Executive Director of (WIBCA) Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association for the past eleven years, President of the Edmonds School District Coaches Association for the past thirteen years, Past President of the Washington State Coaches Association and recently named to the National Federation of High Schools Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Lastly, Nalin is President of the National High School Basketball Coaches Executive Board which represents high school basketball coaches across the country.
In 2016, making his life fuller and richer, Nalin married his best friend and soulmate, Kara. He also gained the bonus of a stepson, Robbie, and stepdaughter, Sheridan, in his new supportive and loving family. Who he is as a person has been shaped by his father-Vic, his late mother-Manu, sister Meera, brother-Ashwin and brother in-law Ken. He is so blessed and loved with balance and meaning in all parts of his life. His roots in Mountlake Terrace are strong and deep.
