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Chris Tormey is a lifelong football coach who has spent almost two-thirds of his breathing years in the profession. He was once recruited to the University of Idaho by the legendary Don Matthews and is the proud owner of eight championship rings — he thinks. After a while, and with success, one starts to lose count.

He wears the first, from the 1980 Washington Huskies’ Rose Bowl victory when he was a graduate assistant, for sentimental reasons — although its size and glitter pales in comparison to the mammoth baubles of today.

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But ask him how may times he and his wife of 30 years, Kellie, have moved and he’s momentarily stumped. With good reason. Like many coaches, theirs has been a nomadic existence.

“You’re not going to ask me to count them, are you?” he asked recently, laughing at the challenge. “At Gonzaga Prep for two years … Seattle … Idaho … Another move to Seattle; I was there for 11 years. Another move to Idaho. That’s what, four? Back to Washington, five. No, actually it was from Idaho to Nevada — that’s five. Nevada to Washington, six … Hawaii, seven … Washington State, eight … Whidbey Island, 10 and this is 11.”