Tacoma basketball heating up. Silas hires Franklin Pierce basketball coach John Barbee
After eight successful seasons at Franklin Pierce High School, John Barbee is leaving for a new challenge. He has been named the new boys basketball coach at Silas High School (formerly Wilson) in Tacoma.
“I think the timing,” Barbee told The News Tribune when asked why it was the right time to leave. “It’s never a good time to leave a really good situation. We had a great situation at Franklin Pierce. But it’s the right time. The opportunity was there.”
Barbee replaces Eric Overgaard, who stepped down after the 2024-25 season.
“Since I’ve been at Franklin Pierce, there have been 10 to 12 job openings in Tacoma over the last eight years. I’ve never applied for any of them. This one felt good.”
Barbee compiled a 136-51 record at Franklin Pierce over his eight years. Last winter, he coached the Cardinals to the 2A SPSL title and a 2A state tournament quarterfinal appearance. He coached all three of his sons (Jalen, John and Javon) during his run at Franklin Pierce. Javon, who was a TNT All-Area selection in 2025, will graduate this spring.
His youngest graduating made it a little easier for Barbee to make the jump.
“Definitely plays a factor,” Barbee said. “My time at Franklin Pierce, always having a Barbee on the floor was special. I can close that chapter and say my time at Franklin Pierce, I got an opportunity to coach my boys, all three of them.”
Barbee, who has also coached at The Evergreen State College, Foster, girls basketball at Kennedy Catholic and the boys at River Ridge, said he flirted with stepping away from coaching with Javon on his way out. It didn’t take.
“How do you stop something you’ve been doing for 28 years cold turkey?” Barbee said, laughing.
Barbee steps into a competitive league with a growing sense that Tacoma basketball is making a comeback. Lincoln figures to be a 3A state contender next year and Bellarmine made significant strides in Bobby Moorehead’s first season coaching the Lions.
“Good talent, but also good coaches in that league,” Barbee said. “There’s a rich tradition of really good basketball at Silas.”
Silas played in a state tournament regional round game last season, but the most recent run of state-level success came under former coach Mike Cocke. The Rams took fourth place in the 2020 state basketball tournament.
“One of the things we need to do is build culture in the direction we need to build it,” Barbee said. “When you look at what Cocke was doing there, he really had that place rocking. … Those gyms were packed. I don’t think it’s far off.”
