The Twin Falls School District #411 is pleased to announce Michael Amaya will be the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Twin Falls High School for the 2021-22 school year. This decision was approved by the School Board on April 12. Amaya will fill the role previously held by Nancy Jones who resigned after 14 years leading the team. Jones will start a new role in the fall as a full-time vice-principal at TFHS.
Amaya has most recently served as the Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at Filer High School where he has coached for the past four years.
“I am very thankful and honored that I was given the opportunity to coach the last four years at Filer High School! While it was not an easy decision to leave a community that accepted myself as well as my family, we are very excited to start our next adventure at Twin Falls High School! Looking forward to upholding the longstanding tradition of success with the girls program,” said Amaya.
Amaya has coaching experience in a variety of schools around the Magic Valley. Prior to coaching in Filer, he previously coached JV boys basketball at Canyon Ridge High School and served as a basketball official for the Idaho High School Activities Association. Before taking a one-year break from coaching to spend more time with his family, Amaya also coached boys varsity basketball in Murtaugh and 8th-grade boys basketball at both Robert Stuart Middle School and O’Leary Middle School where he worked with Nancy Jones at the beginning of his coaching career.
“I have put a lot of thought into when would be the right time for me to leave this position. I decided early on that I would only resign if I knew I was putting the right person into this most important leadership role. This program, my amazing staff and players, this basketball family are things and people I hold so close to my heart. Mike possesses many gifts that will provide this program the continued success it deserves. He is committed to building a strong program culture and solid player relationships; Mike pursues excellence in how he leads,” said Nancy Jones, Activities Director at Twin Falls High School. “I have the utmost confidence that he will continue the tradition and success of the Twin Falls girls’ basketball program. I am excited to see how far he can take these kids.”
Amaya owns Mikey’s Kettle Corn, which allows him the opportunity to dedicate significant time to his basketball pursuits.