Seton Sobolewski

Although it was a change of scenery from growing up in Flagstaff, Ariz., Sobolewski said, “I would have gone to the moon to play basketball. I just wanted to keep playing.”

Turns out, he incorporates coaching strategies and drills he learned at Panhandle into the practices he runs today as he approaches his 11th year as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho.

Sobolewski is the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history. He led the team to a conference championship in 2012, the same year he was named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year.

He got his start as a junior in high school when one of his coaches gave him the opportunity to help coach a team of younger students. “Getting to work with young people who are creative, energetic, and interesting” peaked his interested and left him knowing he would coach one day.

While at Panhandle State, Sobolewski not only had a great impact on the gym floor as a hard worker who understood the game, but he also received recognition for his academic achievements. “My professors would see me out conditioning on the track at 6 a.m. for basketball and then in chemistry class at 8 a.m.” His efforts didn’t go unnoticed as he was named a Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges honoree.

Sobolewski managed to find some extra time to compete in several Intramural activities including Rodeo, Soccer, and Softball. Intramural Rodeo may have very well been a highlight, as a picture of him steer wrestling can be seen in his office today.

“I had some really good experiences at Panhandle. I really enjoyed the small size of it. You got to know everybody. I had rodeo friends, baseball friends, women’s basketball friends. It’s so much different than now. You didn’t have social media. It was really fun getting to know different people from different places. You could actually get to know people and the class sizes were great for me.”

Prior to his time at Idaho State University, Sobolewski served as an Assistant Coach at both University of California, Riverside (August 2002- May 2008) and Yavapai College (May 2001- August 2002.) He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in secondary education from Northern Arizona University.

At the top of his list of greatest accomplishments, Sobolewski says “most definitely my wife and two daughters.”

He enjoys fishing and camping with his family as well as getting out to ride the bike when he can.

Sobolewski is looking forward to the upcoming season at Idaho State University, “We have a group of older players. Those tend to be your best years because of experience. I’m hoping to have a good year, because of our experience.”