The Ephrata School District has tapped Ryan Carlstrom to take the reins of its boys basketball program, bringing a decade of coaching experience and a teacher-first mentality to the Tigers' sideline. The hire is set to become official following school board approval on May 18.

"I'm excited to be part of the Ephrata community and to get to know the student-athletes," Carlstrom said in a district press release. "As a teacher first and foremost, I see coaching and teaching as closely connected. I'm looking forward to challenging the athletes and myself as we build on this program together. Summer ball is coming up, and I can't wait to get to work and help motivate these students to do their best."

Carlstrom arrives after a standout season as head coach of the Moses Lake Mavericks junior varsity squad, where he guided the team to an impressive 20-1 record while also assisting with the varsity program. His resume includes seven seasons as the freshman boys basketball coach, giving him a deep understanding of player development from the ground up.

Ephrata Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Bryan Johnson noted that Carlstrom's experience and approach set him apart from a strong field of candidates. "Ryan has dedicated more than a decade to developing high school basketball players and understands what it takes to build a successful program," Johnson said. "We had a strong pool of experienced candidates throughout the process, and Ryan stood out because of his high school coaching experience, his ability to build meaningful relationships with student-athletes and his commitment to creating a competitive, positive culture."

As summer workouts approach, the Tigers' new coach is ready to hit the ground running—and for a program looking to build momentum, that energy might be just what the doctor ordered.