As players at the University of Utah, they did just about everything football players could do except win an outright championship.

As assistant coaches at Cottonwood High School, the former Utah players are helping the Colts drive for the school's first state championship in football.

Josh Lyman (Skyline), Jason Kaufusi (East) and Cody Weight (Springville) are bringing in a breath of fresh air to the Cottonwood program, which played Mountain Crest in the 4A state semifinals Thursday.

Lyman played wide receiver for the Utes under Ron McBride from 1999-2002. As receivers coach with Cottonwood, Lyman has brought a great new perspective to the team.

"I think we can relate to them (players) because we played the game," he says.

All-state quarterback Alex Cate says that Lyman has really helped the team by giving receivers great insight on how to run their routes and how to anticipate defensive schemes more easily.

Lyman played at Skyline High School from 1995-97 and won a state title every year he was there. Lyman is trying to transform himself from a player into a coach, but the former Ute knows that he has a lot to learn.

"These coaches here are teaching me more about football and game strategies than any of my coaches did in all my years of high school football and college," Lyman said. "It's been amazing."

Head coach Tom Jones says these guys are the perfect fit for his staff because they make his team better.

"We're an awfully good football team," Jones says. "Jason and Josh help to bridge the gap between our players and staff. They bring a different perspective to the defensive line and our offensive schemes."

Kaufusi had the potential to be one of Utah's most dominating defensive ends before his career was cut short with a shoulder injury. As an assistant coach, Kaufusi has helped develop a defense that gave up just over 10 points a game and that was number one in Class 4A.

The Colts defense came up big in their quarterfinal game against Olympus. Twice the Titans' offense moved the ball inside the Colts' 10-yard line, and both times the defense forced Olympus to kick field goals.

The fourth former Ute on the staff is defensive line coach Cecil Thomas. In the mid-1990s, Thomas served as a graduate assistant under McBride.

With all these former Utes on the staff, Lyman says the Colts' practice sounds a lot like one of his old Ute practices.

"Sometimes it's like I'm right back there," Lyman says. "I'm saying to myself, 'Man, I've heard that before.' "

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E-mail: tpeterson@desnews.com