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COACHES

Every year, the basketball program sets high expectations for our players.  To achieve those expectations, our coaching staff believes in leading by example. We are committed to the following:

 

LIVING TROPHIES:  Sports provide a unique opportunity for young adults to learn constructive habits that strengthen character. Our foremost responsibility is to influence our players towards becoming winners in life as the best possible version of themselves.
 

DISPLAY INTEGRITY:  Coaches will be upstanding representatives of the highest moral character.  We will always model the qualities that we hope to instill in our players. We will always exemplify great sportsmanship through our respect for the game and others, integrity in our actions, and poise through adversity.
 

MAKE CONNECTIONS:  The coaching staff will commit to building positive relationships with every player in our program. We believe that players will flourish when they know their coaches appreciate them as people and are invested in their personal success in all aspects of their life.  
 

ZEST FOR LIFE:  Coaches will spread their passion for the game by creating a fun and enthusiastic atmosphere. We will strive to create the experiences that will forge friendships and memories that last a lifetime.

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GROWTH MINDSET:  Coaches will commit to creating a learning environment that will empower all players in our program through challenging, but fair and respectful teaching practices. We recognize that failure is an essential part of the learning process. We will motivate players through accountability and positive reinforcement to help them exceed their goals.
 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  Coaches will commit to continuous improvement in their knowledge of the game in order to maximize the talents of their players for the benefit of the team. Every practice will be organized to achieve meaningful development in the fundamental skills and strategies needed for success on the court.

Ryan Josephson

Varsity Head Coach

Coach Josephson is honored with the responsibilities of leading his alma mater.  Ryan is a 2002 graduate of Camas High School where he played football and basketball during his high school career.  After receiving his Masters in Education from Portland State University, Ryan returned home to begin a career at Camas High School.  Coach Josephson is now in his 14th year of teaching biology and 12th year of coaching basketball.  In six seasons as head coach, Ryan has guided the Papermakers to two consecutive 4A GSHL league championships in 2022 and 2023.  2023 also marked the best season in school history with a 6th place finish in the 4A state tournament.  For his efforts, Coach Josephson has been named the 4A GSHL Coach of the Year in both of the past two seasons.  When Ryan is not in the gym with his team, he commits his time to being a loving father for his two young children, Finley and Everett, and also makes sure to appreciate his wonderful wife Emily for all of her support.

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Erik Chilian

Varsity Assistant Coach

Coach Chilian grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana where he participated in varsity basketball, track, and cross country.  Graduating in 1985, he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point NY, graduating with a BA in Physics and a commission as an officer in the US Army.  He spent most of his 5 year military commitment in the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and then another 23 years in various corporate leadership roles.  Today, Coach Chilian works a portfolio of leadership consulting engagements and entrepreneurships.  For the past 13 years, Erik has coached Camas Select teams of all ages, assisted with the freshman team, and is now in his second year assisting the varsity program.  One of Coach Chilian's greatest passions is to use the game of basketball to coach young men in the pursuit of life, fulfilling commitments to others, and creating character and talent by practicing valuable habits.  Above all, the habit of pursuing excellence.  He lives with his wife of 30 years, Shannon, and his son Matthew, a senior at CHS.  His other sons are Zachary, a senior at the University of Washington, and Nathan, an Infantry Officer in the United States Army.

Jared Price

Varsity Assistant Coach

Coach Jared Price graduated from Evergreen High School in 2013 where he was a varsity player for both basketball and baseball and attended Mt Hood Community College.  He has been surrounded by basketball his whole life – tagging along with his dad while officiating games and attending Portland Trail Blazers games since he was a kid, Jared considers himself a gym rat.  Jared is now in his fourth year of coaching at Camas High School.  He has a true passion for the sport and brings enthusiasm and energy to coaching.  It is important to Jared to develop relationships with players and encourage them to be the best student athlete they can be by always giving 110% in everything they do both on and off the court.  Jared’s hobbies include hiking, travelling, spending time with family and his dog and watching all sports – Blazers, Mariners and Steelers!

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Brian Witherspoon

Junior Varsity Head Coach

Coach Witherspoon brings 23 years of coaching experience to the basketball program.  He led Evergreen High School to a district championship in 2013 and has mentored numerous players into the collegiate ranks during his five year tenure with the Plainsmen.  Prior to Evergreen High School, Brian assisted at Clark College for eight years and helped the Penguins to the NWAACC Western Division Championship in 2012. Coach Spoon began his coaching journey at Portland Community College under his former coach Donald Dixon.  He currently serves as a counselor for Camas High School and has coached the JV program for 4 seasons and is in his 6th year with the Papermaker basketball program.  Brian enjoys contributing to the basketball program because it provides another avenue to serve as a positive role model for young men and encourage them to pursue excellence in their lives.

Joe Farland

Freshman Head Coach

Coach Farland grew up competing in several sports in Longview, WA where he played varsity basketball at R.A. Long HS, graduating in 1994.  He earned college degrees from The University of Portland (’98) and Washington State University (’02) focusing his studies in English, music, history, and secondary education.  This is his 24th year teaching English in Camas where he typically leads courses in 9th grade Honors English and 11th grade AP Language and Comp.  This is Coach Farland’s 14th season coaching the Camas freshman squad and assisting the varsity basketball team.  Hobbies include being a fantasy sports nerd, traveling as much as possible, following the Blazers, Seahawks, and Mariners, and supporting his children in their activities:  school, music, theater, sports, and church.  Joe and his amazing wife Eleanor, a music teacher at Helen Baller Elementary, will celebrate their 20th anniversary this February. Their daughter Lucy is a CHS junior who puts much of her energy into vocal music and theater, and twin boys Noah and Jesse are 6th graders at Helen Baller who love playing basketball, football, and baseball. 

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