Originally published Friday, March 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Girls basketball coach Karen Blair quitting at Ballard after 3 years

Karen Blair, who coached Ballard High School to a historic fourth-place finish at last week's Class 4A state girls basketball tournament...

By Sandy Ringer

Seattle Times staff reporter

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Karen Blair, who coached Ballard High School to a historic fourth-place finish at last week's Class 4A state girls basketball tournament, will not return next season.

Citing an "equity issue" involving the lack of a girls team room similar to one for the boys, Blair said Thursday she is stepping down after three seasons. The Beavers finished 24-3 this season.

"It's unfortunate," she said while attending the 3A state tournament at Edmundson Pavilion.

Blair, who won her 301st career game last week and was named The Seattle Times all-area coach of the year, said she does not plan to pursue another high-school coaching job, but implied she might be interested in a college or pro position.

"I feel fulfilled and satisfied as a coach," she said. "I believe everything happens for a reason and for whatever reason this obstacle came along. This ends a chapter for me and who knows what the next chapter might be. ... I feel I still have more to offer."

The team-room issue arose during the 2006-07 season when a female wrestler opposed the presence of Blair's two male assistant coaches in the girls locker room during team meetings and film sessions, according to Blair. The Ballard boys team transformed an equipment room into its team room, Blair said, and she told school administrators last year the girls needed a similar space for 2007-08. She said she made the request again six weeks before the 2007-08 season began and got no reply.

"They told me three days before the season started that they weren't going to do anything different, and I told them this would be my last year at Ballard," Blair said.

Ballard administrators could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Blair came to the KingCo 4A Conference school after an 11-year run at Meadowdale of Lynnwood that included state titles in 2000 and 2004. She resigned there over a disagreement with the Edmonds District athletic director over the handling of parent complaints.

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