ROCK SPRINGS – Lights at Wyoming high school football fields around the state will bring a familiar glow as teams will kick-off the 2014 season this weekend. On Friday, the David Hastings era will begin at Rock Springs High School.

Hastings will take over as the leader of Rock Springs football. He replaces Tom Jassman who was the head coach for the past three seasons. When deciding on a new football coach, the Rock Springs High School and Sweetwater County School District No. 1 had a community forum where they created a list of wants and desires for the next head football coach.

These qualities included football knowledge and experience, Integrity, ability to be a role model, discipline, accountability, successful experience, proven ability to build a football program, goal oriented approach to football, ability to work with others in the community and to sell the football program and communication.

The first news of the new hire was posted on RSHS Facebook page. The post said the successful candidate achieved the highest score on the screening rubric and was invited to interview for the position of head football coach against three other candidates.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. David Hastings as the new head football coach at Rock Springs High School,” the site said.

Highlights from Coach Hastings career at Lehi High School include being named All Utah Valley Coach of the Year in 2013. Under Hastings, Lehi broke multiple state and school records on offense, including most rushing yards in a season and most passing yards in a game. At Lehi High School the football team went from a 0-26 streak when he was hired to a 500 season. The team just missed going to the state playoffs by one game.

“Coach Hastings ended the longest losing streak in our school history, and in the process came only one game away from qualifying for the state playoffs,” school administrators at Lehi said. “He was able to change the culture of our football program and to bring back pride to our athletes. Coach did a tremendous job for us and he will bring great football knowledge to your school.”

Highlights from five years at Sugar Salem High School includes the formation of the “Grid Kid” youth football program. Prior to 2006 it had been nine years since Sugar Salem participated in the playoffs. During Coach Hastings tenure, the team qualified three times and he was named Conference coach of the year in 2007.

The Tigers will look to Hastings to turn the Tiger program around after going 1-8 last year. RSHS will be tested right out of the gate as they play last year’s 4A State Champs and top 4A team in the pre-season rankings, Cheyenne East. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at RSHS.

In the recently released pre-season rankings, East took 13 of the 18 No. 1 ballots. The team East beat for the title last season, Natrona, sits in second in the pre-season poll. Gillette, Sheridan and Kelly Walsh round out the top five. Kelly Walsh will face Gillette to open the season.

 

Pre-Season 4A rankings

1. East, 249 points.

2. Natrona, 204 points

3. Gillette, 165 points

4. Sheridan, 138 points

5. Kelly Walsh, 24 points.

 

2014 RSHS Varsity Schedule

8/29 – Cheyenne East – 7 p.m. RSHS

9/5 – at Laramie – 7 p.m. Laramie High School

9/12 – Kelly Walsh – 7 p.m. RSHS

9/19 – at Cheyenne Central – 7 p.m. Central HS

9/26 – Sheridan – 6 p.m. RSHS

10/3  – at Evanston – 7 p.m. EHS

10/10 – at Gillette – 7 p.m. Campbell County HS

10/17  – Cheyenne South – 7 p.m. RSHS

10/24  – Natrona – 7 p.m. RSHS

10/31 – First Round of Playoffs

11/7 – Semi-Finals

11/15 – Championship at War Memorial Stadium

 

RSHS JV Schedule

8/29 – Cheyenne East – 3 p.m. RSHS

9/4 – Laramie – 3:30 p.m. RSHS

9/12 – Kelly Walsh – 3 p.m. RSHS

9/19 – at Cheyenne Central – 3 p.m. CCHS

10/6 – at Evanston – 4 p.m. EHS

10/10 – at Gillette – 3:30 p.m. Campbell County HS

10/17 – Cheyenne South – 3 p.m. RSHS

10/20 – at Green River – 6 p.m. GRHS

10/24 – Natrona – 3 p.m. RSHS

 

RSHS Freshman Football Schedule

9/8 – Laramie – 3:30 p.m. RSHS

9/11 – at Lyman – 4 p.m. LHS

9/20 – at Cheyenne Central – Noon CCHS

9/27 – Cheyenne South – 11 a.m. RSHS

10/2 – Evanston – 4 p.m. RSHS

10/11 – Cheyenne East – Noon RSHS

10/16 – at Lander Valley – 4 p.m. LVHS

10/20 – at Green River – 3 p.m. GRHS

10/25 – Playoffs