Andy Brosche came all the way from Southern California for his new role as executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lewis Clark Valley, but he already has roots both with the organization and in north central Idaho.

Brosche took the job Monday, replacing Jon Evans, who held the position for eight years. Evans left in August to serve as director of organizational operations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

A native of San Clemente, Calif., Brosche has had connections with the club since he was a part of it as a kid.

"I was a club kid at 7, and then played basketball and everything there all the way through 18," he said.

His involvement with the club - particularly the coaches and mentors he interacted with - had a lasting effect on him.

"That's where I learned how to play basketball, learned how to be a part of a team, learned how to compete as a sportsman - not necessarily compete to win," Brosche said.

He remembers the club as a good place to grow up and learn morals.

"They say 57 percent of club alumni say that the club saved their life, and I'm definitely one of them," Brosche said. "My family didn't need the club for me, but I needed the club."

His passion for the club developed his lifelong interest and contributes now to his priorities as executive director.

"As long as the kids are in the forefront of any type of vision that's created, that's ultimately the number one, is making sure the kids are taken care of," Brosche said.

He also recognizes some of the goals the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley club has, including building a capital campaign to help serve more teenagers with a teen center. Additional buses and a kitchen for the club in Lapwai will also be key.

Brosche said Evans has already laid a strong foundation for the club.

"I have huge shoes to fill. He's a great guy, has a lot of respect here," Brosche said. "I'm not coming in here trying to change things."

So far Brosche has been introduced to some basic daily operations of the club. He said he's excited to be starting a new chapter in Lewiston and has a good first impression of the Lewiston club.

"Just seeing the colors on the walls and the passion through the staff members, and almost seeing them get teary eyed when they talk about their kids - it's right in line with how I feel about the movement itself and what Boys and Girls Clubs do for the youth of today," he said.

Brosche's transition from club kid to club professional started in 2004, when the executive director of the club in San Clemente asked Brosche to build the club's website. He continued working as a computer consultant for the club and quickly moved up the ranks.

"I just really related well to the kids, and (the executive director) saw that, and he offered me a job as athletic director," Brosche said.

About three months later, he was promoted to program director. He held that position for about seven years, at which point his skillset became so advanced that the club created the position of director of operations for him with the hopes that he could someday take over as executive director.

When the executive director retired three years early, the club opened the position to other candidates, and Brosche made it to the final two.

"It didn't work out, and fortunate for me, it didn't. I landed in a much better spot," Brosche said.

He said he and his wife, Gisella, wanted to move their family and had their sights set on Idaho.

"My mom would always talk about how beautiful it is," he said.

Brosche found the state lived up to its reviews when he moved here over the weekend.

"It was more of people holding the doors open for you and saying hello and just being welcoming, and just the overall friendship and the smiling faces," he said. "That was what drew me."

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Embree may be contacted at cembree@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2278.