Amber Frank

Naselle is bringing back cross country to its fall sports lineup.

Amber Frank has been hired as head coach.

Frank is a 2004 graduate of Ilwaco High School where, as Amber Hall, she ran cross country, advancing to run at state at least one season. She also wrestled at IHS for one season and had a couple of seasons of track.

She has fond memories of running for Fishermen coach Joe Williams and his then assistant Sarah Taylor, who now leads Fishermen running sports.

“I strive to be her!” Frank enthused, who reached out to Taylor for advice when hired. “I want to be as good to my runners as she was to us.”

She cherishes that tone — and the lessons learned through sports.

“I had such a great relationship with my cross country coaches in learning determination. In high school, three miles seems like a long way! You learn things that kind of resonate through life.”

After high school, Frank worked for the Bank of the Pacific for about 15 years and now substitutes in various roles at the Naselle schools. She continued her enthusiasm for running into adult life, forming an informal club with Marie Green, Naselle’s athletic director, who was three years ahead of her at Ilwaco, and their friend Briane Smith.

Frank has run a half-dozen half-marathons and relays. “I tend to be competitive against myself,” she said.

She is excited to have the school program re-start. Naselle has offered cross country only when there is guaranteed student interest, most recently about five years ago. “I am excited,” the coach said. “It will be great for the kids that don’t want to play football or volleyball.”

Sports is a key element of family life. Husband Derick Frank placed at state in javelin for Naselle and daughter Brooke Davis was a starter for the NHS volleyball team at the state tournament last year. Seventh-grader Klara is a keen runner and stepson Owen, a third-grader, plays in recreational sports leagues.