New coach Kevin McGranahan doesn’t plan to make any major changes in the Coupeville High School softball program.

“I am just looking forward to putting my stamp on it and building this program into what I feel it could become,” he said.

He will, however, bring change in one area — coaching staff stability — if he sticks around awhile.

McGranahan’s appointment is the sixth coaching change in seven seasons for the team.

Denny Zylstra led the club in 2010, then Jackie Calkins took over in 2011. David King joined Calkins as a co-coach in 2012.

In 2013, Calkins stepped down and King’s wife, Amy King, joined as co-coach for two seasons.

Deanna Rafferty took over the helm last spring but resigned after one year to pursue other career opportunities.

“I am planning to stay as long as the school will let me,” McGranahan said. “I want to build a successful program and I believe that starts with stability at the coaching positions…Barring unforeseen circumstances, my goal is to stay here for a long time.”

“I wanted the CHS job because I love coaching and saw an opportunity to try and build a program,” he said. “There is a good foundation in place, and I feel that this program is poised for great things in the near future and beyond.”

This is McGranahan’s first varsity coaching position; he coached youth teams for about 20 years.

Growing up as a “Navy brat,”  he lived “all over.” He spent his high-school years in Hawaii and played varsity baseball at Radford High School for four years.

After two years at the University of Hawaii, McGranahan joined the Navy in 1996 and became a Naval Aircrewman. He has been stationed in Hawaii, Jacksonville and, since 2005,  Whidbey Island.

His coaching career began when he helped with his brother’s Little League team. That led to coaching his own children’s teams.

First, he coached son Wade in baseball, and when Wade reached high school, he switched to softball to coach his daughter, Katrina, in the Central Whidbey Little League. Katrina is now a sophomore at CHS.

“I have been coaching softball for about eight years now and absolutely love it,” he said.

His wife, Justine, and Ron Wright have assisted him each softball season and will now join him on the Coupeville staff.

McGranahan’s coaching philosophy is centered on four concepts:

Teamwork: “Softball is a team sport and a team cannot succeed as individuals.”

Education: “Softball will only get us so far. We need to be good students and keep improving our grades.”

Commitment: “(We need to commit) to the team as well as the community. We have to commit to and pick up each other up even when we make mistakes.”

Fun: “If we are not having fun, then we aren’t doing it right.”

McGranahan added that it is important for the players to respect each other, show sportsmanship and display class.

“I hope the players learn that win or lose, as long as we play as a team, represent the community and the school and have fun, we are all part of building this into a successful softball program for years to come.”

Coupeville hosts South Whidbey in the season opener at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12.