Eaglecrest finds new boys basketball coach in Jarris Krapcha
It’s never easy to replace someone with the longevity or the success of a coach like John Olander Jr. But Jarris Krapcha is up to the task.
Eaglecrest has turned to the now former Doherty boys basketball coach to maintain a level of success that has included two state titles in five years.
“Eaglecrest is one of the premiere jobs not only in Denver or in that league, but in the state as a whole,” Krapcha said. “Coach Olander built them into a powerhouse. It’s a very good situation.”
Said Raptors athletic director Vince Orlando in a statement: “Already an accomplished coach with a wealth of knowledge, coach Krapcha is just scratching the surface on continuing his ascent to an elite coach in this state. He is exactly the type of coach we were looking for and we are confident he’ll continue the high-level of success the Raptor basketball program is accustomed.”
In his three years are Doherty, Krapcha compiled a 56-19 overall record. The Spartans made the state tournament in all three seasons and won consecutive Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro League titles from 2016-17.
They made the 5A Great 8 in 2016 before losing to eventual state champion Overland.
“Doherty is a great community with a lot of pride,” Krapcha said. “It’s a hard place to leave. I firmly believe it’s the best job in Colorado Springs.”
Krapcha took over for James Lane, who coached at Doherty from 2011-14. Previously, Krapcha was the head coach at Mitchell for one season, leading them to the state tournament in 2014, and he was an assistant women’s coach at Johnson County Community College in Kansas.
He will be a teacher at Eaglecrest, according to Orlando.
Olander had announced during the season that 2017 would be it for him. He had a strong senior class that was highlighted by Pepperdine commit Colbey Ross and when all was said and done, he would go out a champion.
Olander led the Raptors for 16 seasons, retiring after Eaglecrest won the Class 5A championship in March.
Eaglecrest posted the opening on March 14, and then held interviews last week.
Olander is a 1988 graduate of Fort Collins, where he played basketball for his father, John Sr.
He got his start as an assistant at Northglenn in 1992, and eventually landed the head job at Eaglecrest. He led the Raptors to two state titles, in 2013 when his team upset Denver East, and this past spring with a 53-47 win over George Washington.
“He honestly has built a culture of work and a culture of winning,” Krapcha said of Olander. “That part is in place. I’ll do things differently than Olander. But having that culture aspect in place, all I have to bring is my passion for basketball.”
