Following a year off, Koentopp led a group of 13 local investors who purchased the Spokane Indians in September 1979. He took over the role of general manager. Spokane, then an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and member of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, ran into financial difficulties in the 1980 season due to the rain and ash fall from the Mount St. Helens eruption, which led the Indians to cancel 18 of their home games and having to deal with poor attendance throughout the rest of the year.