West Salem boys basketball coach Travis Myers steps down after eight seasons

After eight years at the helm of the West Salem boys basketball program, Travis Myers will not continue as the Titans' head coach next season.

Myers, who went 140-70 during his tenure with West Salem, said he made the decision earlier this spring to "pursue other opportunities in the basketball space."

"I think it's time for a change in, kind of, my direction in the basketball world," Myers said. "I think it's time for a different challenge — and maybe a new voice for West Salem."

Myers led the Titans to a 20-6 finish during the 2023-24 season that included a first-round playoff win over Nelson. Tualatin, which reached the 6A state semifinals, ended West Salem's season with a 79-70 win in the second round of the playoffs.

"Coach Travis Myers has served West Salem High School basketball as the head coach for the past eight years," West Salem athletic director Wendy Stradley said in a statement through a Salem-Keizer Public Schools spokesperson. "We are proud of his work leading the team to an overall record of 140-70 and a league record of 73-26. Coach Myers has coached hundreds of athletes at West Salem with many going on to play at the higher level."

Myers will continue in his role as a behavior specialist at West Salem.

A graduate of Douglas High School, Myers began his basketball coaching career at Dallas in 2008 and later spent time as an assistant at Sprague. He went on to serve as an assistant at West Salem for one season, before taking over for former head coach Mark Bulgin in May 2016.

During Myers' first season at West Salem, the Titans reached the 6A state quarterfinals. They were ousted by eventual state runner-up Clackamas, but ran the table in the consolation bracket to notch a fourth-place state finish.

"That first year will be one that's hard to ever beat," Myers said of the 2016-17 season. "It was the school's first trophy earned at the state tournament. Obviously, the success on the court stands out with that group. ... But even some of the years we weren't as successful on the floor stand out just because of the amount of work the kids put in to get us to where we went.

"There were years when we may not have been as talented, but that didn't change our kids' expectations. They came to fight every day."

Myers said he informed West Salem's players of his decision to step down around the start of spring break.

"It's tough, you build these relationships with these kids and put a lot into it — and they give you a lot, too. These kids gave me everything they have," Myers said. "But I hope they get what's best for them in the long run. Knowing our kids here, knowing the type of kids we have, they're going to be successful regardless of who the head coach is."

Myers said he is open to "competing" for future coaching roles if the right opportunity arises.

"If there's an opportunity that works for me and works for my family — where I feel like I can positively impact a program and some kids, yeah, I'll definitely go compete for one," Myers said. "But it's gotta be one that I feel is gonna work."

West Salem has not yet hired its next head boys basketball coach, according to Stradley.

"The hiring for this position will follow our standard hiring practices used for all positions. The application window for this position is open and will remain open until filled," Stradley said in a statement.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: West Salem 6A boys basketball coach Travis Myers steps down