By Tony Jones
The Salt Lake Tribune
Published Oct 23, 2010 05:05PM
High school football in the state of Utah is losing one of its premier coaches.
Les Hamilton, who guided Alta to a pair of state titles in six years, will resign effective at the end of the season, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
Hamilton confirmed Saturday that he’s leaving coaching and moving to Chile with his wife and four children to help run a seafood export business.
Hamilton officially tendered his resignation to the school Friday, hours before the Hawks lost 21-16 to Pleasant Grove. He informed his team of the decision Saturday morning.
Assistant coach Bob Stephens will be promoted to interim head coach at the end of the season, Hamilton said. The school, however, is expected to open the job to outside candidates.
“This has nothing to do with Alta, the team, the players, the administration or the community,” Hamilton said. “Everything has been great. I love Alta football and I love the community. I want to finish strong. This is just a business opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. This is a blessing for my family. It’s going to be a great opportunity for my kids to learn another culture and to live in another area of the world.”
Whomever follows Hamilton will have to emerge from a large shadow.
In six years, Hamilton has guided the Hawks to five consecutive Class 5A state semifinal appearances. He has won two state titles, averaged 10 wins per season and formed a rivalry with Bingham that has been so hotly contested, it has gained national attention.
Along the way, Hamilton has worked hard to garner attention for Utah football on a national level. He has regularly taken his team out of state, including trips to California and Washington. His Alta teams have been nationally ranked by MaxPreps.com.
Hamilton has compiled a career record of 74-29, which includes a two-year stint at Grantsville High.
Hamilton has also been instrumental in establishing a feeder system at the youth level. That has played a prominent role in Alta’s development into a regular state championship contender.
“In many ways, Les has helped to secure the image of Utah football being very, very good,” longtime Skyline coach Roger DuPaix said. “I have great respect for him. He’s gone to a school that had wonderful talent, and he’s brought everyone together and won under tremendous pressure. He’s produced some of the best offenses in the state over the past few years.”
Hamilton said that he and his family will likely live in Santiago, the place where Hamilton served his LDS Church mission from 1991-1993. Language won’t be a barrier. Hamilton teaches Spanish at Alta and is fluent in the language.
This year has been Hamilton’s toughest season at Alta.
Usually a quarterback-friendly system, the Hawks have gone through three signal-callers this season while compiling a pedestrian 4-6 record.
Alta is 4-2 in Region 4 and will host Northridge in Friday’s first-round matchup. But the Hawks have been turnover-prone and their defense hasn’t had the star power of recent seasons.
Still, the Hawks would like nothing better than to put together one last state tournament run for their outgoing coach.
“We should’ve done a lot better this season and that’s tough for us and tough on the seniors,” running back Taylor Eyring said. “There are a mixture of emotions right now. We’re shocked, mad that we didn’t do better and we want coach to go out on top.”
Tribune reporter Bill Oram contributed to this report.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50527703-76/hamilton-alta-state-season.html.csp
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