Great. I think Coach Whitehead is a class act. He will do a great job.

Aaron Whitehead is a great coach and a terrific person. I wish his all the success in the world. BYU is getting a great graduate assistant.

Best of luck to Coach Whitehead.

I'd like to nominate Jason Barlow to be East's next coach. Let's put the Beast back in East!

I think Jason Barlow would be a great head coach for the Leopards. Put Jason Kaufusi as defensive coordinator and Scott Hammer as offensive coordinator and the Beast would be Back!

i'd like to see Jason Kaufusi in as the headcoach, i think he would do great for the school and the community! he grew up in glendale and would be a positive influence for the kids there and help the football program overall!

I've been out of state for a little while now. Is Larry Eldracher no longer the defensive coordinator at East? He would make a great head coach, although I'm not sure if he's eligible...I believe he's still working at Skyline.

Jason Barlow had the best hands of any player in the history of EHS Football, and he arguably has the greatest coaching mind. HIRE JASON BARLOW!

Yes, I love it! Let's bring back some discipline and ferocity to EHS. Barlow/Kaufusi/Hammer for the win!

Barlow for President!!!

Barlow/Hammer/Kaufusi...that would be an incredible trio. Bring the Beast back baby!

If we are going to bring back that trio from '97, we might as well start the Dan Stewart & Matt Lowe c/o '96 campaign for head & assn't coach for the once proud Leopard basketball program. Bonsai!

example of the importance of pursuing a good education at the same time. Way to go Coach and the best of luck at the Y...

yes he is still the defensive cordinator for East High and would make a great Head Coach. Scott Robbins would also make a great coach, the offensive coordinator

Jason Kaufusi for Head coach!

Coach Eldracher, the defensive coordinator, should be the head coach for this season. He is respected by many on the team as well as the community!

Elracher for head coach.

Aaron is going to be greatly missed. I've had the opportunity to work with him as an assistant (last year and this year during the of season) and it really is a big loss for me. He was a great leader and a great source of inspiration; all the things you look for in a head coach.

I think this season the HC will likely either be Doug Bills (OL coach and former HC at Kearns) or Larry Eldracher (he is a teacher at East right now and could fit the bill). I think Scott Robbins (QB coach) is ready to be the OC, but I guess we'll see.

Good luck to you Aaron. I'm one of the few Cougar fans at East, so I'll be following what you do with pride :-).

What about coach Tony Cisliano--- he's a great baseball coach, wrestling coach I SAY IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO BE THE NEXT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH.I'm sure that he can do for football what hes' done for baseball

Geezo Aaron! Congratulations. If it doesn't work out down there let me know, we could do some camps together. Thanks for your friendship and for being a good example and positive guy while I was coaching bball at East.

Congrats Coach Whitehead, You have done amazing things with those incredible athletes, Good Luck at the Y and the best to you and your family- Your Friend ---) We Did IT !!! '90 --) Big D !!!

This is devastating for the Leopard program. I am sure that an assistant will be promoted. Just is terrible!

Way to go Aaron. You've always had the smarts and personality. This is a great challenge and opportunity for you.

Go Blue (when you don't play red!)

As much as I have outright hatred for the zoobies of BYU, I've got nothing but good things to say about Whitehead. He was an assistant when I played at East, and has been nothing but a positive influence on the young men in his program, be it football or laX - especially my little brother. I've played for a coach who left before the season started - I know the sting it causes. But, at the end of the day, you've gotta respect a man for keeping his priorities straight. Family comes first. There's not a doubt in my mind that it was a difficult decision for him, but I think he made the right choice. Although, Aaron, I'm coming all the way from Ohio to heckle you loudly with my U shirt on come Nov 22, so just smile back.

its bout time hes outta there...for reals he didnt do anything at east. it was all the assistants who did everything. we need to put east back on the map how the use to be. i say we bring back coach keeko!

I think EHS should immediately hire Mark Smith.

I have known Aaron for a long time and I can't believe that he is going to byu.

You're still a great guy but don't forget where you're from.

East High Alumnus Zack Effron has what it takes.

Hey Knights fans, you know Whitehead almost took the job at your place last spring.

While I congratulate Aaron for having done so well at East, and for being qualified for the college level, I can't help but compare this to the situation five years ago when the previous head coach left after the third regular season game to accept a job at BYU, leaving Seniors hopeful of a great year deflated and dissapointed. I understand that each individual has to do what's best for their family, but I can't understand why BYU's coaching staff and administration wouldn't step in and say something like, "let's hold off until the off season. Finish up your season as head coach so that you don't disappoint players, parents, and students at your high school." In both situations, both now and 5 years ago, they should have encouraged the coaches to hold off until after the season, holding a position open for them. This would seem like a more professional option than creating a situation where the coach is seen as unloyal, and a quitter in the eyes of his players.

Not to be pessimistic - just a little frustrated. All in all, I'm happy for Aaron's accomplishments and wish him the best.

We all knew there would be some who would compare this to that situation with Hamblin. This is an entirely different siatuation. Hamblin sold those kids out and left in the middle of the season. The team broke up and his coaching staff was aweful to begin with, with many of them leaving too. Although it is a little soon to the beginning of the season, their team and staff will stay the exact same and continue to move forward. They are all in sync and it will not effect anything. There is a great staff over there who have helped make East a power these last 5 years and I have no doubt that they will again make the playoffs and be tough competitors. It is unfortunate anytime a coach leaves, but honestly...when is the right time? Please don't put Aaron on the level on Hamblin. Things will be just fine and the kids won't be taking a step back at all.

"Let's hold off until the off season."

Last time I checked, the season hasn't started.

One of the assistants will take over as head coach and East High will continue to play tough. This is undoubtedly a rebuilding year and with so many new kids starting, but it will be fun and the newfound tradition and competitiveness East has offered the last 12 years will continue. BOO BAM

Hamblin was a punk for leaving. His teams in those 1.5 years were not good and he never cared. Aaron's teams went to the playoffs every year and won 2 region championships. I trust his judgement and his character and know that he is doing the right thing no matter what angle you look at it.

Good luck to the kids and we hope they will move on and remember what he taught them.

If appointed head coach, Jason Barlow, a prominent East High and Beta Rho Mu alum, would bring East back to the glory days of Region Titles and State Championships. My vote is for Jason.

Hire Randy Schreiter. Please hire Randy Schreiter.

Why doesn't the east high administration contact the assistant coach from cottonwood-Scott Cate.I believe he and only he can take East to the next level.Build it and he will come

I coach high school football and am I the only person that sees this as a disraction to the East High Football team. Why did Coach Whitehead wait so long? That team must fell betrayed, there first game is in five weeks! No head coach can plan a season with this short of time. Good luck to the new head coach, but I see only a few win for the East High football team.

I'd like to see current assistant coach Kap Sikahema be the head coach. He has his graduate degree. He has coached at many championship programs. More importantly, as Coach Whitehead has stated, Kap has brought back the respect from the players (mostly Polynesians) back to the coaches.

Best of Luck Whitehead, lets go Kap!

To the person who said the season hasn't started - you're right. You caught me. Still, the team is preparing for the first game next month. It would have been much better had it been anytime between December and May. According to the article, notice was given several weeks ago. Why couldn't an announcement have been made then?

Again, Whitehead is a great guy, and has done a lot of good at East. I simply feel badly that the East High Seniors will be put in a similar situation as those in Fall 2002 with Hamblin. It may not be exactly the same, nor quite as dramatic with the other coaches leaving as well, but the timing is very unfortunate. Couldn't BYU offer the same opportunity next year, giving several months to find a new coach and institute his program all summer?

Get Justin Thompson back from Skyline. He did a great job last year and would make a great head coach.

Coach Whitehead has a great record, but so do his players from last year.

Yes, PLEASE hire West's coach, East. West might actually win a few.

Best of luck Coach Whitehead!

You are a high school coach? Your grammar and spelling sounds much more like you are a little league coach. The new head coach WILL BE from the current coaching staff. They have been planning the season together with Coach Whitehead. Stop being so critical of his decision. His players and team will continue to move forward and this won't be that much of a distraction. Perhaps it will teach the young men to handle adversity and to not let a coaching change affect their success. The whole staff is the same and if you didn't know, this staff is very interchangable and dynamic and it was never just Aaron that did the coaching. He will be missed and yes teams were great because of him, but we have full trust in the rest of the staff to work together and fight hard the way Whitehead would have. They are a very smart and will carry on the tradition. Don't feel bad for the seniors, don't cottle (sp?) them. Tell them to take courage and to buck up and make the most of it. This doesn't have to mess them up unless they let it.

For the 2008 season East is in for another 2002 type season 1-9 or worst 0-10!

That was not my post, but I would like to comment.

Why is it that as soon as someone makes a post we disagree with, we attck spelling, grammar, etc.? Can someone have a valid point and still not be so very anal-retentive as to do a total spell and grammer check?

You KNOW that the new HEAD COACH will be from the current staff. So the fix is in and it is a done deal. Would not the administration want to pick the next coach from a large pool of well qualified coaches? What if Roger Dupaix was interested? Would they consider him?

Who are the "we" you speak of that have full trust in the rest of the staff?

Then, after attacking the poster for spelling errors, you mispell coddle.

I tend to think the administrators at East High School have lost control of the program.

I do think East is in dire need right now of bringing in someone who cares about protecting children, and not winning football games first.

Football players are human, not toys for boys past their prime.

I think personally that they should open the job to anyone. I am sure everyone from the local area would be interested in the job, not just the assistants or some stupid baseball coach. Let the assistants be the assistants let the baseball coach be the baseball coach and let anyone interested apply.

I question your perspective and opinions because perhaps they are as careless and thoughtless as your spelling. Do you proof read your thoughts? Cause you don't do that to your posts.

"We" refers to everybody who knows the situation and doesn't just throw their opinion out like it matters when in fact it is as far from reality as possible.

Lastly, if Dupaix, Bronco Mendenall, Bill Cower or Urban Meyer showed up at EHS to speak with the Administration about coaching, I would guarantee they wouldn't let it happen. The Admin is very sharp and knows what they are doing, and because they care about protecting the kids and giving them the best opportunity to learn and play well and have a good season they will not make an outsider head coach.

Please Mr., think about these things...

I say let him do it. Think of the publicity.

or anything close to that even if they totally implode. AT worst they are a 5-5 type team.

Partially due to the fact that Region 6 is terrible this year. Granger, Murray, Cyprus and West will all struggle mightily for that last playoff spot and a 50-0 type first round drubbing in the playoffs.

"The Admin is very sharp and knows what they are doing, and because they care about protecting the kids and giving them the best opportunity to learn and play well and have a good season they will not make an outsider head coach."

Last September, no one was looking out for the students, they were looking out for the football program.

You sir, are a very scary person. Your perspective comes for a neo-facist (order) point of view.

It scares me to think what might be happening to the students at East High school.

I'm wondering in character matters anymore, and whether or not the East "we" are more interested in winning football games, rather than looking out for the safety of the children?

Isn't it time to quit hirirg "coaches" that teach so they can "coach", and start hiring educators that coach also.

My daughter had a class with a coach, and many time the football players would come in during classtime and the whole class would watch game films. I was unhappy about what whe learned in U.S. History.

It's time parents took back their childs education from the "we".

And your posts are not well though out.