Zachary Eastman (Crow): Keep An Eye Out For The New Boy’s Basketball Coaching Leader At Lapwai HS in Idaho

By Dan Ninham (Oneida)

The Lapwai HS (ID) Wildcats basketball programs come from a rich tradition of winning. They have been considered one of the best programs in Indian Country. From 1987-89 they won 81 straight games with three state titles. Since then their boys and girls teams have won numerous state titles. Basketball is a way that brings this community together and coming from a rich tradition every year there always are high expectations. 

There is a new leader for the boy’s varsity basketball team this season, Zachary Eastman. He brings a wealth of experience following his father who was a national champion junior college coach in Minnesota. Zachary was also an NCAA DII and NAIA DII player. His commitment to structuring a winning program for high school student-athletes is a mirror of how he was raised by doing the right things right. He is a student of the game bar none.

“I am an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe,” said Zachary Eastman. “I was born in Fargo, ND and grew up in Minnesota. I work at the Clearwater River Casino as the Human Resources Generalist and I am the Varsity Boys Basketball Coach of the Lapwai HS Wildcats in Lapwai, Idaho. My mother Pam Eastman, and sister Megan Ness still live in Minnesota.”

Zachary Eastman played basketball at Brainerd HS and Chaska HS in Minnesota. He started every game since his 9th grade year, earned all-conference honors at both high schools, all-state honorable mention honors junior season and finished his career with over 1,000 points and 400 assists. He played on the Howard Pulley Basketball Nike AAU program and traveled around the United States. Zachary played basketball at Bemidji State University then finished his career playing and graduating at Haskell Indian Nations University with a BA Degree.

Zachary started coaching at a young age with his father, the late Dennis Eastman. His dad gave him the opportunity to help coach with him at the college level. Dennis Eastman taught and coached at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota for over 25 years. He coached the Central Lakes College women basketball team winning the 1996 NJCAA National Championship. Zachary also coached different AAU programs, and directed many basketball camps throughout Indian Country. 

“At a young age I learned about my culture and what it means to be a tribal member in today’s world,” said Zachary. “I always knew I could become a leader off and on the court and I used my tribal core values as a part of my coaching style also with my everyday life as a mentor. Respecting your elders, respecting yourself, and always putting family first. My team and my community I live in now are all my family and I want to always be there for my community in anyway I can.” 

“My core values have been taught to me all my life,” said Zachary. “They have helped guide me to where I am today. I learned to treat everyone with respect, respect your elders, and to care about people. Basketball is not all about ‘X’s and O’s’ if you cant relate to your players and have a great bond with them how do to expect them to come to practice everyday and give you everything they have? When you have gained their trust and they know you will always have their back they will give you everything they have everyday. I want these kids to love basketball again. I am not here to tear anyone down. I am here to show them the game I love and to have fun.” 

“To be successful you have to love what your doing. I wake up everyday with a smile on my face and feel motivated. This community in Lapwai, Idaho has only been supportive and having that support around you only makes you want to work harder and be the best person I can be,” added Zachary. 

“When I was younger I always wanted to play basketball and go to the NBA,” said Zachary. “Another goal of my mine was to coach college basketball like my father. He was my mentor, best friend, and my idol. Watching him make so many impacts on peoples lives just by using the same traditional values he taught me was so inspiring in my life. He passed away and before he did he told me, ‘Son, I have taught you everything I know … how to be a strong native man in this world today, and now it’s your turn to take care of your family and become a leader.’ Every time I step on the court to play and coach I look up to the sky and thank him for everything he taught me.” 

Central Lakes College men’s basketball coach and Athletic Director Jim Russell, was a 19-year friend of Dennis Eastman. The April 10, 2017 issue of the CLC Westbank Journal, the news source for Central Lakes College, announced the death of the long-time CLC Health and Physical Education teacher, Dennis Eastman. Jim Russell said: “Dennis touched everybody that he was associated with – other coaches, players, and students. But most importantly, he made a huge impact on the lives of our student athletes. His teams were his family.”

“Zach will be a great coach because he understands how to become a very good player with a great work ethic,” said CLC Athletic Director and Coach Jim Russell. “When he was younger learning how to play the game he learned great knowledge about how to deal with people and how to coach the game through his dad. He has also been to a variety of different schools that gave him a great knowledge of how to handle different coaches and how to handle an environment that he’s been in. Zack also has a great knowledge about the game and a very good basketball IQ. He is one of the best point guards in the area when he was growing up.”

Zachary’s sister Megan Ness is a mental health profession for the White Earth Nation Urban Office. She said: “Zach is my brother and I couldn’t be prouder of him for fulfilling his dream of becoming a coach. From a young age he has always had a competitive spirit and has gravitated towards athletics. In fact, we pretty much grew up in a gym as our dad was a coach and my mom was the unofficial assistant coach as partners of coaches often are. Zach specifically was at every practice with my dad and every game, even the away ones.  Apart from having a genuine love for sports, Zach has always had a gift, and he’s a natural athlete and a leader. His passion for the game is contagious and teammates always knew that when you played with Zach he was going to give 110%. I think his passion and dedication are traits that made him a great athlete and now will make him a great coach. He is encouraging, positive, high-energy and so genuine, that people can feel when they are around him. I’m excited to watch this season unfold and I hope Zach knows that he has the love and support of all his family and friends.”

Brady Fairbanks, head men’s basketball coach at Leech Lake Tribal College, Cass Lake, MN knew Zachary for many years as the opposition and a teammate: “Zach always had a very high IQ as a player ever since I met him. Always played to win and played very hard. We took our college paths together and played our senior year together. I learned a lot from him in college and I believe he will be a great coach!”

“Zachary Eastman brings a wide variety of playing and coaching skills to our team,” said William Big Man, Athletic Director, Lapwai HS. “I believe his experience coupled with his education background shows that Zach has a promising coaching career for years to come.” 

“Since he was new to coaching at Lapwai HS, I was curious about his practice style and philosophy.  His practices are very organized with players constantly moving and working.  Zach makes the time to work with individual athletes and gives them the attention they need and deserve to be successful,” added AD William.

“On game night, Zach is constantly up and moving, encouraging those young men to be the best they can be,” said AD William.  “When a player makes a mistake, he encourages them and provides constructive feedback.  He exhibits an upbeat and optimistic personality and has shown he is willing to help out in any situation.  His professionalism and leadership style sets an excellent example for the team.” 

“You can see Zach truly cares about the young men of Lapwai HS and their success in basketball. He gives 100% of himself to these young men in practices and games and it shows in the way the players are giving back on the court in return.  We are very excited to have Zach as a coach and thankful to his parents for raising a gentleman that is willing to give back to native youth. It takes a lot to coach a high school sports team.  Zach has what it takes to go far and we are blessed to have him coaching the young men of this community,” added AD William. 

“I first met Zach during my sophomore year/season at Haskell Indian Nations University in 2011-2012,” said Bo Schneider. “He was an incoming senior transfer and former standout basketball player at Bemidji State University (MN), a well renowned NCAA Division II school. Zach and my first of many encounters were in competition during pre-season open gyms, and let me tell you he was one competitive guy! He demanded your best effort and performance. If you didn’t bring your A-game as an opponent, Zach would be sure to expose you and take advantage of every opportunity given. As a teammate, Zach elevated the play of everyone around him. He was a gym rat with relentless drive, grit, and determination. Zach had a substantial basketball IQ and performed day-in and day-out with confidence and poise. Not only was Zach an outstanding athlete, player, and competitor, but he was also a natural born leader. He pushed his teammates, as well as himself, to better themselves each day both on and off the court.”

“After his senior year of eligibility, Zach continued to lead and push us by helping Duelle Gore and myself prepare for our upcoming junior and senior seasons. We spent the following two summers in the Coffin Sports Complex with no ‘AC’ putting in countless hours of workouts, drills, and pick-up games. He was a dedicated individual and leader. He was a vocal leader who also led by example through his actions. One particular thing that has always stuck with me that I’ve admired about Zach is that he stayed committed to the end goal by putting in the time in the classroom and finishing college after his playing career had concluded, obtaining his Bachelors degree from Haskell Indian Nations University,” added Bo.

“Zach’s inherent ability to lead comes as a result of his upbringing and years spent playing sports,” said Bo. “His father, Dennis Eastman, was a well-decorated basketball coach at the junior college level. Zach grew up in a gym and around his father, soaking up every bit of basketball that he could. As a player and a teammate, Zach’s leadership extended past the court. He took the time to get to know his coaches, his teammates, and his peers, ensuring that everyone knew they were seen and heard. He would ask the deeper questions with genuine intent and would offer a lending hand whenever able, putting others first before himself and always trying to help people grow to their full potential. To Zach, it has always been bigger than basketball. His upbringing, his character, and his relentless drive to be the best person, player, and leader he can be has and will continue to translate into a successful coaching career for Zach. Keep an eye out and expect to see big things from Coach Eastman and the Lapwai High School Basketball Program in the years to come.”

“First, my old teammate Zach is the most dedicated and basketball minded person I’ve ever met,” said Jimmy Johnson. “We grew up playing school ball against each other in elementary school.  He played for the Brainerd HS Warriors and I played for the Anoka HS Tornadoes. They beat us every time and it was always a battle to play against them. We really disliked each other, until we eventually played AAU together for the Minnesota Magic. We definitely had multiple summers of very successful teams and traveling the country to different tournaments. I would say these AAU days were the best and I was able to learn from Zach how to truly love the game of Basketball. That would continue into us teaming up in college at Bemidji State University. We didn’t have the best record but we still enjoyed going to war with our teammates. Those years we would create a lifetime bond as friends, and spent most of our time playing open gym with the locals or practicing with our team. I not only think Zach has a very promising career as a basketball coach but also he is the best to teach the kids about life and basketball. I know he will continue his Dad’s reign as a great coach, and make all of us proud to be a part of his journey.”  Photo Credit: Zachary Eastman