Coach Mark Lovelady was the former Head Boys Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, and Principal at Life Christian Academy in Tacoma, Washington for 25 years before taking the Gilbert Christian High School Principal’s position from 2018-2023. His first three years at LCA, he coached the MS Varsity Boys, MS Girls, and JV HS Boys Basketball Teams until the Life Christian Academy HS opened the following year. The last 22 years he coached the varsity boys’ team to 411 career wins. He is currently in the top 50 in all-time career wins for boys’ basketball coaches in Washington State history. He was also the league coach of the year seven times and guided the Eagles to nine league titles, six district championships, and 14 state tournament appearances (4-Final Four, 4-Elite Eight, 6-Sweet 16’s). The last four seasons at LCA his teams had built a 105-12 record, won four straight Pacific League titles (63-1), and three District Championships. His teams placed in the top four in the state tournament in Spokane the last three years including a 3rd place finish in 2018. Three of his players were nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game including his son Luke in 2017. His last year at LCA (2017-18) he was the Head Varsity Coach for both LCA Girls and LCA Boys during the same season. He helped guide the girls’ team to a 19-7 record and their second state tournament appearance in school history (last appearance since 2003). It was the first time in Washington State High School history that the same varsity coach was able to lead both teams to the state tournament in the same season. Coach Lovelady was inducted into the Tacoma Athletic Commission Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Life Christian Academy Alumni Hall of Fame in 2018.
The past two seasons, Coach Lovelady was the Head Girl’s Basketball Coach at Gilbert Christian where he led the Lady Knights to back-to back 3A Metro East Region Championships (30-0 record). Both seasons the team qualified for the State Tournament with combined record of 36-4. He was also selected as the 3A Metro East Region Coach of the Year 2021-22 and 2022-23. This past season his team was ranked #1 in 3A State for six straight weeks.
Coach Lovelady also had the privilege of coaching the Tacoma Tide (semi-pro) basketball team of the International Basketball League 2009 and 2010. He guided the team to a franchise record 16-7 (2009) and two of his players went on to sign and/or tryout with the NBA Developmental League. The year prior to coaching the Tacoma Tide, he signed and was on salary with the Tacoma Jazz of the IBL. At the age of 40, he was the oldest player in the league by eight years.
Coach Lovelady has been married since 1994 to his wife Jennifer and has four children Alexis, Luke, Landyn, and Ashton. Both Luke (Western Washington University) and Landyn (Ottawa University) played college basketball.
