Mike Cranston, who won more than 200 games as Mountain View’s boys basketball coach, has been named the girls basketball coach at Union High School.
“Union has been like a second home to me,” Cranston said. “My kids (go) to this school, and I just feel it’s a really good fit for me.”
Cranston won more than 300 games in his head coaching stops at Mountain View, Hermiston, Ore., and Sunset in Oregon.
This past winter, he was on the Union boys basketball coaching staff.
Cranston has not been a head coach since he resigned from Mountain View following the 2009-10 season. That year, he helped the Thunder to the district championship. He had 13 winning seasons in his 18 campaigns.
“Mike has a track record of successful high school coaching,” said Cale Piland, athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools. “We’re fortunate a coach with his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for the game was available and wanted to take the position.”
Cranston met with the Union players Friday.
“I really, really like the girls we have coming back,” Cranston said. “They are a committed group, and they want to bring the program to the next level. I’ll try to provide them guidance … and hopefully get them there.”
Cranston takes over for Gary Mills, who was the program’s interim head coach in the final weeks of this past season. Kelly Blankenship was relieved of his coaching duties in late January.
Mills is expected to remain on the coaching staff as an assistant to Cranston.
