Will Ephraim is back in Clark County’s head-coaching ranks and back coaching Class 1A football.
On Tuesday, Fort Vancouver named Ephraim as its new football coach, athletic director James Ensley said.
“We’re really excited about it,” Ensley said. “I think it’s going to be great for us. The kids love him, and he knows football. We don’t get an opportunity with candidates like that very often that have the experience.”
Ephraim spent the past two seasons leading 3A Prairie.
The Falcons went a combined 8-10, including 6-3 in 2022. In both seasons, Prairie finished tied for second place in the 3A Greater St. Helens League, but came out on the losing end of a three-team tiebreaker to determine what team advanced to the Week 10 state preliminary round.
Fort is Ephraim’s fourth head-coaching stop in Clark County. Prior to Prairie, he led 1A Seton Catholic from 2015-18, and was Hudson’s Bay’s coach in 2010. He’s also previously assisted at Camas and Heritage.
Ephraim replaces Doug Bilodeau, who resigned after Fort’s 1-8 season.
Miller hired at Prairie
Junior Miller, Prairie’s new football coach, returns to his alma mater as a first-time head coach.
Miller spent four seasons as a Falcons assistant from 2018-21.
In the 2019 season, he was on staff when the Falcons reached the Class 3A state playoffs and tied a program record with nine wins. That year, the Falcons also snapped a 27-year league-title drought. Its previous league title came in 1992.
Miller also was Columbia River’s defensive line coach in 2022.
