Tricia Samson-Dean has been selected as the new head coach of the girls basketball program at Flathead High School.
Activities Director Bryce Wilson announced the selection Tuesday morning. Samson-Dean is the sister of Flathead Braves head football coach Kyle Samson. She graduated high school at Havre in 2008 and earned a teaching degree from Montana State University-Northern. She plans to join Flathead’s English department.
“I’m really excited. I felt like Flathead has a really good atmosphere and a supportive community,” she said. “I feel like it’s a place where you could build a winning program.”
Samson-Dean replaces Lisa Hendrickson, who resigned in March after three seasons. The Bravettes were 4-17 overall last season and 11-52 overall the last three years.
A selection committee interviewed four candidates before selecting Samson-Dean, who will be recommended for hire to the school board.
“Tricia is passionate about kids, comes from a winning ‘A’ girls basketball program, and has a strong desire to lead the Flathead Bravettes Basketball program with positive energy and competitiveness,” Wilson said in a statement. “She outlined her vision during the interview and provided a comprehensive portfolio with details for leading the program. She has seen the effects of positive culture and climate in a sports program and is excited to bring this synergy to the Bravettes basketball program.”
Samson-Dean has coached girls basketball at Havre the last three years, serving one season as the freshman coach and the previous two as JV coach and an assistant varsity coach. She said her brother’s positive experience at Flathead influenced her decision to move to Kalispell and lead the girls basketball program.
“He has had such a good experience here and has been so supported,” she said.
Samson-Dean met with the returning players Tuesday morning and explained her goals for the program, which include building on fundamentals and establishing a strong work ethic throughout the year.
“We’re going to work to compete everyday. We want to make sure we’re working hard everyday and getting better,” she said.
The selection committee included Wilson, Flathead principal Peter Fusaro, assistant principal Mike Lincoln, head boys basketball coach Ross Gustafson, and Flathead girls cross country coach Jesse Rumsey.