Aaron Carlson has been named the new head football coach at Centaur High School, officially ending a two-month search to fill the position.
Former Centaurus head football coach Andy Hampton has stepped down from his position after a six-year tenure following an impressive finish to the 2023 season that marked unparalleled success for the program over the past decade. . Needless to say, he left a big impression on his CHS community, and Carlson hopes to be able to do that in the coming years, making it an even bigger role for his successor. Ta.
“Coach Hampton has done a great job with this program. Last season was obviously great,” said Carlson, who takes over a team that won the Class 4A I-25 league and finished 8-3. . “I am grateful to him, his coaching staff and the Centaurs football family for what they have done and accomplished thus far. I look forward to continuing to build on that foundation.”
Carlson spent the past four years as the head football coach at Estes Park High School, where he helped build the football program in his hometown. Before he took that position, he was an assistant coach at Highlands and Barrow Christian High Schools in Ranchi. He primarily worked on the offensive line.
Centaurs athletic director and vice principal Carl Buck said Carlson's unique coaching style and past success should translate well to the Warriors.
“He believes in his philosophy, especially the offensive side of the game. That's going to be exciting for the players,” Buck said. “And his approach to strength and conditioning is a little bit new and innovative.”
But for Karlsson, football is more than just a game, and the team is more than just the national team level. He will be active in not only the varsity team, but also the continued development of both the JV and freshman teams over the coming months.
“I want them to develop the skills to play great soccer and feel invested in them from a coaching standpoint,” Carlson explained. “We want to continue to strengthen these young age groups because they are the lifeblood of the program, but we also want them to grow and grow into the people we need them to be. We want to use football as a tool to transform their lives to help them grow'' within their football program. ”
In searching for Hampton's replacement, the search committee valued Carlson's close relationships within the Estes Park team and community.
“We were looking for someone who was people-oriented. This kind of builds on what Hampton and his staff have been doing for years, and we wanted someone who was also a good fit for the role. ,” Buck said.
Carlson has high expectations for the future of the Centaurs football program as he kicks off his coaching role in the fall 2024 season.
“We want this to be the best experience of their high school career,” Carlson said. “I want them to remember their soccer experience as life-changing and always fondly. It will only help them grow, mature and become great citizens in their communities. It also means being as competitive as possible on the soccer field and just having fun.”
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