Wa-Hi Blue Devils Honor Former Coaching Great Thacker

Walla Walla High School honored former boys' basketball Coach Jim Thacker before a game against the Richland Bombers last month (January 2023). Thacker, became Wa-Hi Blue Devil coach my senior year at Wa-Hi (1975-1976) and stayed at the helm of the program for 30 years. 

Thacker, and a trio of other coaches came aboard after certain towns people felt the previous coaches did not put enough commitment toward competing with other conference programs, a feeling that can still be debated to this day. 

Perhaps, by design, the game pitted the Blue Devils against the Bombers, whose coach, Earl Streufert, played at Wa-Hi under Thacker. 

It could be argued that Thacker was the greatest coach in Wa-Hi history, with many state tournament appearances and in 1998--99, coaching the Blue Devils to its first state championship since 1952.  

Blue Devil and Cougar legend Drew Bledsoe, known nationally as Tom Brady's predecessor at quarterback for the New England Patriots,also played basketball under Thacker in his high school days and was present for the ceremony.  He is pictured above with the coach and other former players.