3A-A football coach of the year

JASON CATRON

FALCON

Years coaching: 8

Years at school: 5

Reason behind coaching: It’s something that he always wanted to do. When the opportunity presented itself, he didn’t hesitate. Now he hopes to contribute in the same way as the coaches and mentors did while he was in high school.

Day job: Math teacher (Algebra 2 and Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus)

Family: Wife (Erin)

Hometown: Lewistown, Mont.

Alma mater: Montana Western

Favorite moment as a coach: His team posted impressive wins in consecutive games in 2007 — beating Pueblo County, the 2006 state runner-up in Class 3A, and Alamosa, the 2006 state champion.

Easiest way to find your doghouse: “To have a player act like they know more than the coach, and for a player to be disrespectful.”

Key to winning: “To win, you need to have a united coaching staff, coachable athletes and everyone in the program has to keep in mind what the ultimate goal is.”

From a player’s eyes: “He is a great coach and has also been like a dad to me, and I’m really proud that he got us to the playoffs. He is really tough on us when we don’t play our best game, but he trusts us and we trust him.” — Chris Rucker, junior linebacker
justin shaw, the gazette