Coach Ancheta grew up in Pacific City-a suburb of Auburn. lt was there that two grade school teachers—Bill Cable and Howard Willis— encouraged him to play basketball. It was also significant that during this time his mother Ann, played and coached on a women’s team and would frequently take Rod to practice and games.
Rod attended Auburn High School where he lettered twice in basketball and three times in baseball. After graduating, he attended Seattle Pacific on a basketball scholarship earning most improved during his junior year and most inspirational following his senior year.
Rod began his coaching career at Tyee High School. After serving as the junior varsity coach for five years, Rod, who also taught math at Tyee, took over as head coach. Despite playing against teams with significantly larger enrollments, Rod guided the Totems to the state playoffs in 1977, placing fourth at the tournament. The next year, Tyee moved to the Seamount League where Rod once again guided the Totems to the state tournament, this time finishing eighth. After claiming a trio of Seamount League titles, multiple state playoff appearances and the 1981 Washington Coach of the Year honors, Rod left Tyee to take over a struggling West Valley (Yakima) program.
It didn’t take long for Rod to find success in Yakima as he guided the Rams to the state playoffs in his first year. Four state tournament appearances followed, including a fourth place finish in 1991 and a second place finish in 1996, before Rod retired in 1996. He finished with an outstanding 154-51 record at West Valley (Yakima).
Rod achieved an overall record of 418-242 during his coaching career. In addition, he also led his squads to four MidValley League championships, three Seamount League championships and one North Puget Sound League championship.
Rod wishes to acknowledge the love and support of his wife, Beth, sons Kerry and Kyle, family members and also the loyalty, dedication and hard work of his assistant coaches and players.
