COBURN COACH OF THE YEAR
by Gary Chidester

WSFL Chooses Coburn

Amidst the plethora of accolades that have been heaped upon the much deserving Snow College Badger football team, one has not received the attention that it deserves.

Head Coach Steve Coburn was named "Coach of the Year" by his peers in the Western States Football League. Part of the reason you may not have heard about this until now is because of Steve himself. Coburn is the first to make sure that the team, his players and then his coaches receive the praise for success. According to Coburn there is no "I" in team.

Yes, the team went 11-1 and won their third straight Top of the Mountains Bowl. The team also had the best record in the WSFL. Nine players were named first team WSFL and one more to the second team, Cade Cooper was named offensive player of the year. Three Snow players were named first team All-American and two more were named to the second team.

It's might be easy to lose track of all the awards, but Coach of the Year is very deserving. The two previous years were tumultuous for the Badgers. Controversy surrounded the Badgers last year and many of the players will be the first to tell you that it was Coburn that was instrumental in holding the team together the past two years and a key to the success. As Defensive Coordinator it was the defense on occasion that led the Badgers in scoring and ultimately to the win.

Again, Coburn will tell you it was the players and the other assistant coaches that made it possible. With rumors of the coaching staff making a mass exodus to other locations Coburn reminds us that there is no "opening" and then mentions that the only reason he would even consider such a move would be to provide full-time positions for his assistants.

Steve Coburn continued a great tradition of strong coaches at Snow College. The list is long, but Coburn's name belongs there with the best. Should he leave, he and his staff will be extremely missed. If he stays, the hope of Badger faithful, expect another exciting season and another run for the National Championship.