A high school football coach: big rewards for little pay

What insanity moves a man to aspire to be a high school football coach?

What possesses a person to seek a job that asks applicants to teach both football strategy and skills to (mostly) inherently lazy teenage boys with little or no training? Why would anyone want a job that requires not just a knowledge of playbooks, but also demands administrative skills and the ability to be an effective counselor on subjects ranging from domestic issues to learning disabilities? And finally, why would anyone want to wade into all of that in order to toil under the microscope of public opinion, enduring a near-constant stream of criticism, for too many hours to count?

To make understanding why anyone in his right mind ever signs up to be a high school football coach even more elusive, consider that the best of them know the real compensation doesn't come in an envelope from the district's main office.

"A lot of people in the business world do not get the gratification that a high school football coach gets," said Logan's head coach Mike Favero. "But they're very successful in their careers. A high school football coach will never have that monetary success, but they'll have the gratification. That's the trade-off."

High school football coaches are more than guys who hand out pads and draw up plays. They become iconic in the communities they serve and especially to the boys they lead. Their passion isn't just for the sport but for the players, their families and the neighborhoods that fill the stands every Friday night to watch them compete. Sometimes it's almost impossible to distinguish between the program and the coach.

"We dive into the atmosphere," said Alta head coach Les Hamilton. "Our life is Alta football. My wife and kids love it too. I live a half a block from Alta and I walk to and from school. It really is a second home."

It may not be possible for people outside the ranks of coaches to understand the affection these men have for the game and its players, but here are a few insights from just a few of Utah's prep football coaches.

Les Hamilton, Alta

HOW LONG? Sixth as head coach.