Wruble lands his dream job

Sammamish alum Daniel Wruble is the new boys basketball head coach

A mere six years ago, Daniel Wruble roamed the halls at Sammamish High School as a well-known student-athlete.

Fast forward to the present and he is now the new head basketball coach of the Sammamish Totems boys varsity basketball team.

Wruble, who was an assistant coach for the Totems during the 2015-16 season, was hired as the new varsity head coach in early May. Wruble played basketball collegiately for Everett Community College and Pacific Lutheran University following his high school basketball career. He is a graduate of Washington State University.

He replaces Wes Newton, who resigned his coaching position following the 2015-16 season after landing the Sammamish High School athletic director job. Wruble, a 2010 Sammamish graduate, played for Newton from 2007 through 2010. He is looking forward to following in his esteemed mentor’s footsteps.

“I hope to take the principles that we built together and just continue that,” Wruble said.

The 24-year-old head coach, who just celebrated his birthday on June 4, feels confident he will succeed in his new spot on the sidelines.

“It is a little nerve-wracking to be honest, but I feel pretty prepared,” Wruble said. “With Wes (Newton) being the AD (athletic director) at the school, he will continue to mentor me as we go. I’m a fiery coach who brings a lot of passion to the game, which is pretty typical for a young coach I would say.”

Wruble admitted being the head coach is going to be a transition from his role last season as an assistant.

“Last year my role was to be a players coach, have fun with the team and keep them relaxed. This year it’s going to be a little different. It is going to be a transition and will take a little time for them (the players) obviously, but that is where we are at right now.”