AURORA | Vista PEAK is searching for the second head football coach in its young school history after deciding to let Pat Rock go.
Athletic director Mike Hughes said before the holiday break that the school decided to make a change after three seasons under Rock, who posted a 12-18 overall record while ushering the Bison into varsity play for the first time.
Rock got the news in November and has done his best to move on. He felt good about how he and his coaching staff helped overcome some of the challenges faced by Vista PEAK in terms of geography and enrollment of fewer than 1,000 students to get the program headed in a positive direction.
“Obviously I’m disappointed, but it’s been a month and a half, so I’ve come to grips with it,” Rock said Monday. “I thought we were doing good and building it. We had our little setback this year recordwise, but other than that our freshman class had its best record ever and we felt like we were ready to build on that. Now it will be somebody else’s job to keep that going.”
With just the second senior class in school history, Vista PEAK finished 4-6 in the 2014 season, including a 4-3 mark in the Colorado 7 conference. The Bison posted a 3-7 record in their debut season of 2012, followed by Rock’s best season in 2013, when Vista PEAK finished 5-5 and fell just short of a playoff appearance with a loss to Fort Morgan in the regular season finale.
Hughes was appreciative of where Rock has left the program.
“I am thankful for all the time, effort and energy that Coach Rock put into building the Vista PEAK football program,” Hughes said. “He is a very selfless man and a man of integrity. I am thankful for his efforts.”
Vista PEAK graduates three of its four All-Colorado 7 first team selections in quarterback Noah Butler, running back Chris Mitchell and defensive lineman Delano Gatewood, plus versatile threat Isaiah Young, which will be significant losses. Butler finished with 2,500 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns (14 passing, 11 rushing), Mitchell ran for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns and Gatewood posted a team-best five sacks last season.
The Bison expect to return plenty of talent, however, including standout wide receiver Dylan Holt — who had more than 1,000 yards receiving as a sophomore in 2014 — and several other young contributors in addition to an influx from this season’s strong freshman team.
“It’s going to be young next year, but the future is pretty bright there,” Rock said.
Rock’s departure is yet another part of a sweeping change in Aurora’s head football coaching ranks following the 2014 campaign, following Aurora Central’s dismissal of Taylor Calvert just before Thanksgiving.
Smoky Hill is also expected to search for a head coach and athletic director Preston Davis said the job would be listed on the Cherry Creek School District and CHSAA websites Monday.
Rock said he plans to “put some feelers out” about coaching jobs in the area and hopes to coach again in the near future, if not next season. He’s also keeping an eye on assistant coaches that might be available as well in case he lands a head job.
Hughes has another big hire to make, but has already found success in filling the boys and girls basketball jobs with successful veteran coaches in Gary Childress, the former Grandview coach, on the boys side and Jim Bartok with the girls.
In a statement, Hughes said his ideal coaching candidate: “Will have a strong technical and tactical football background which will help us continue to build the VP football program. As with all of our coaches here at VP, we expect candidates to be exceptional role models and mentors, as we continue our efforts to produce respectful and responsible student-athletes.”
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
PAT ROCK’S COACHING RECORD AT VISTA PEAK
2014: 4-6 overall (4th place in Colorado 7, missed 3A playoffs); 2013: 5-5 overall (3rd place in Metro East, missed 3A playoffs); 2012: 3-7 overall (4th place in Metro East, missed 3A playoffs)
