HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: KNOX TO COACH EAST FOOTBALL (SLC)
By Andrew Aragon
Deseret News
Published: Friday, March 27, 2009 12:05 a.m. MDT
This can be said about new East High football coach Sean Knox: He practices what he preaches.
Since the end of the 2008 season when interim Leopards coach Larry Eldracher's tenure as head coach was completed, Knox has taken the lead in keeping the school's football players in shape and on task in the classroom.
"I tell the kids all the time you can wait for someone to go down to have your number called and wait to be the guy," Knox said, "or you can just be the guy."
Knox is now the guy at East, as school administrators officially named him the Leopards' new head football coach on Thursday. He was an assistant under Eldracher last season, coaching the safeties and receivers. He works in the school's Colors of Success program.
The job has technically been open since former coach Aaron Whitehead left to take a position at BYU in July.
"He's (Knox) been working with the kids and they love him," said East athletic director Kathy Butler. "We had some really good applicants, but the thing that set him apart was he's so ready to be a head coach. He's pretty gung-ho to take this program to the next level."
Knox is originally from California and played football at the University of Utah. He said he's been in Utah off and on for the past 18 years. His being named East's coach will be considered a surprise by most high school football fans. Some well-known coaches were in the mix for the position, and a total of 18 people applied for the job.
Knox will be a first-time head coach.
"It was my first season at East, the ball was in the air and I went and grabbed it," Knox said. "I'm really honored that was I chosen from the eligible candidates."
Knox said he's looking to apply what he's learned in non-athletic programs to running his new football program at East.
"I'm looking forward to creating some quality good men in the East football program, and by that I mean well-rounded, respectable young students," Knox said. "I want to create a program that's a model for the rest of the state."