C.R. Washington announces Decker as new boys’ hoops coach

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Washington has reached to the college ranks again for its new head varsity boys' basketball coach.

Washington Activities Director Paul James confirmed Wednesday the school will hire Justin Decker to lead the program. He is an associate head coach at Coe College.

An Independence native, Decker replaces Adam Sanchez, who resigned earlier this month after three seasons as head coach. Decker's hiring is subject to school board approval.

Sanchez came to Washington from Grand View University in Des Moines.

'Coach Decker is known for his hard work (and a) roll up your sleeves and get to work attitude,” Washington Principal Dr. Ralph Plagman said in a release. 'He will create a positive culture in the Washington basketball program.”

'Coach Decker comes with a passion for the game and will create an atmosphere the players will enjoy, improve, and experience success,” James said in a release.

Decker, 33, is a Cornell College graduate who was team captain his senior season. He was head coach at Riceville High School in 2006 and lead assistant coach at Cornell prior to moving to Coe, where he has been since 2010.

'I know good jobs are hard to come by,” he said. 'That is what attracted me to the job at Washingtoh.”

Washington shared its division championship in the Mississippi Valley Conference this past season and advanced to a Class 4A substate final. The program suffered a significant loss earlier this spring when standout junior guard Jared Printy transferred to Linn-Mar.

'I think I've got what it takes to get this program on track,” Decker said. 'I wouldn't have accepted this job if I didn't think we had the chance to compete regularly and the chance to succeed.”

'Justin will do a great job,” Coe Coach Bryan Martin said. 'He's very organized, will work hard and will do a good job developing players in all areas ... He is ready to be a head coach.”

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