Robert Galbreath photo Head BPHS outdoor track coach Jess Nugent, third from left, was reappointed to the position by SCSD9 trustees on June 20. Also pictured are assistant coaches Terry Cane, Jennie Kozeal and McKenzie Sullivan. File photo Chad Espenscheid, pictured with the BPHS Puncher boys’ junior varsity team this winter, was appointed head coach of the high school boys’ basketball program by SCSD9 trustees on June 20.

Jess Nugent reappointed head track coach

BIG PINEY – Reconvening after a brief executive session to discuss personnel matters on June 20, the Sublette County School District No. 9 Board of Trustees unanimously approved the assignment of Chad Espenscheid to the position of Big Piney High School (BPHS) head boys’ basketball coach.

Espenscheid served as BPHS assistant boys’ basketball coach for four seasons. He also coached sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade boys’ basketball at Big Piney Middle School before moving to the high school.

The Wyoming Coaches Association honored Espenscheid with the 2022-2023 Winter Sports High School Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach of the Year Award in April.

Espenscheid is a member of the BPHS Class of 1989 and played Puncher football and basketball, skied, ran track and was a member of the high school rodeo team. He continued his rodeo career at the University of Wyoming and on the pro rodeo circuit for several years.

Trustee Cody Raza asked whether Espenscheid had named his assistant coaches yet. Espenscheid and BPHS Principal and Activities Director Jeff Makelky were still discussing possibilities for staff, responded Superintendent Dr. Charles Jenks, with no decisions made at this time.

Trustees had declined to make a motion on the recommendation to rehire Nathan Strong as head boys’ basketball coach in April.

In a separate motion, trustees unanimously approved the re-appointment of Jess Nugent as BPHS head outdoor track coach.

Nugent received the Wyoming Coaches Association’s 2023 Spring Sports Coach of the Year Award for 2A girls’ outdoor track earlier this month. The BPHS girls’ team snagged the 2A State Championship at the State Meet in Casper in May.

Nugent served as an assistant and head coach for the BPHS outdoor track program for 14 years. She also coached high school girls’ swimming and volleyball and served as a basketball coach at both the high school and middle school.

Nugent also supervised athletics at Big Piney Middle School as the activities director for the 2022-2023 school year.

In May, SCSD9 trustees named Nugent the new BPHS activities director for the 2023-2024 academic year. Nugent is the president-elect for the Wyoming Coaches Association.

Trustees also approved the following extra-duty assignments for the upcoming school year: Kaitlyn Sims, eighth-grade volleyball coach, Candice Penfield, sixth- and seventh-grade head volleyball coach and Scott Carpenter, middle school football coach.