AURORA | The opportunity was just too much to resist for Gary Childress.
He thought when he stepped down from Vista PEAK last March that he’d made the final stop of a lengthy coaching career during which he’s won 512 games.
But when Morgan Gregory stepped down at Cherokee Trail a few weeks ago and a job that was in the Centennial League at a school near his house and oozing with familiarity came open, Childress just had to explore the possibility.
It turned into a reality Friday when Cherokee Trail athletic director Steve Carpenter announced the hiring of Childress, a former longtime rival at nearby Grandview.
“I didn’t want to let an opportunity like this go by,” Childress told the Sentinel.
“I’ve watched this program for quite a few years and for a lot of reasons, it’s probably the only job I would come back for.”
According to Colorado High School Activities Association records, Childress is only the 11th coach in Colorado prep history to win 500 games and his current total of 512 (against 319 losses) ranks ninth all-time. He has posted a winning record in 27 of his 37 seasons on the bench.
Childress’ coaching career stretches back to his start with Limon in the 1979-80 season. He opened Grandview as its original coach and guided the Wolves for 16 seasons, in which he went 216-165 and led the program to the Class 5A Final Four three times.
He sought a fresh start at Vista PEAK and had a strong three-year run there, as the Bison won 18, 19 and 20 games in his tenure and went to the 4A Sweet 16 twice.
Childress can’t wait to coach again in the Centennial League, even though he knows how difficult the road is in a league that has produced recent champions in Eaglecrest and Overland (twice apiece) and Grandview this past season.
“I loved my time at Vista PEAK, it was so great there, but I did miss the Centennial League big time,” Childress said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to coach in the league again, but it’s also be careful what you wish for. This is a league that exposes any weaknesses for sure.”
Interestingly enough, Childress notes that Overland’s Danny Fisher is the only coach in the league who was coaching when he departed Grandview.
Childress takes over a Cherokee Trail program that went 99-77 in the past seven seasons under Gregory, who guided the program to state playoff berths in every one of those campaigns.
The Cougars made it twice to 5A’s Great 8 in the span, but the program remains looking for its first trip to the Final Four.
Childress — who ran a practice session with the team Thursday as part of the interview process — knows the program will have a lot of new faces on varsity next season.
“I don’t think there’s a lack of talent, there’s just a lack of experience with that talent right now,” he said.
Now that he has the job, Childress plans to stick with it for the foreseeable future.
“I’m not putting any time constraints on it, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think it would be for a good period of time,” he said.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Sentinel Prep Sports
GARY CHILDRESS’ COACHING RECORD
1979-80: Limon – 19-5 (State tournament consolation championship); 1980-81: Limon – 20-4 (State tournament 3rd place); 1981-82: Yuma – 8-9; 1982-83: Yuma – 10-9; 1983-84: Yuma – 13-8; 1984-85: Yuma – 17-7 (State tournament Great 8); 1985-86: Yuma – 17-5; 1986-87: Yuma – 17-3; 1987-88: Yuma – 12-8; 1988-89: Yuma – 15-5; 1989-90: Yuma – 23-1 (State tournament Final Four); 1990-91: Ferndale, Wash. – 13-9; 1991-92: Palisade – 8-11; 1992-93: Palisade – 11-10; 1993-94: Palisade – 9-11; 1994-95: Palisade – 9-11; 1995-96: Palisade – 13-7; 1996-97: Ferndale, Wash. – 6-14; 1997-98: Assistant at Mesa St. College; 1998-99: Grandview – 10-11; 1999-2000: Grandview – 12-9; 2000-01: Grandview – 6-14; 2001-02: Grandview – 12-9; 2002-03: Grandview – 19-5 (State tournament Final Four); 2003-04: Grandview – 6-14; 2004-05: Grandview – 18-9 (State tournament Final Four); 2005-06: Grandview – 20-7 (State tournament Final Four); 2006-07: Grandview – 14-10; 2007-08: Grandview – 13-12; 2008-09: Grandview – 11-14; 2009-2010: Grandview – 16-10 (State tournament Great 8); 2010-11: Grandview – 11-14; 2011-12: Grandview – 16-9 (State tournament Sweet 16); 2012-13: Grandview – 16-8; 2013-14: Grandview – 15-10 (State tournament Sweet 16); 2014-15: Vista PEAK — 18-6; 2015-16: Vista PEAK — 19-6 (State tournament Sweet 16); 2016-17: Vista PEAK — 20-5 (State tournament Sweet 16); Total: 512-319
