| The Golden Oldies performed for the luncheon. |
Following the surprise announcement several weeks ago that Jimmy Jones was stepping down as head football coach at Emery High School, the school announced the decision to elevate assistant football coach Kevin Reynolds to the head coach position.
Reynolds, a 1976 graduate of Emery High School, returned to the school in the fall of 1990 to teach and coach. He volunteered that first season for the Spartans and has been on the coaching staff ever since.
Reynolds, over the years, has been the sophomore coach, the receivers coach, the defensive backs coach and the junior varsity coach the past several seasons. He also coached at Skyview High School in Cache Valley while he was attending USU. In addition, he has coached wrestling at Emery High and has been the head girls track coach the past five seasons.
Reynolds said, “I applied for this job because I wanted to do it. I’ve always wanted to be a head football coach. I could have gone elsewhere, but I like it here. I’ve always wanted to stay here, I consider this home.”
He continued, “I want to coach here at Emery, we have good kids and good athletes and I like football.”
After spending one year at Ricks College, Kevin went on a LDS Mission to Oregon. After his two years there, he returned for another year at Ricks where he decided to be a trainer instead of a player. He had returned home five days before the season started. That year, he assisted the football team, the baseball team and the wrestling team. He moved onto BYU, where he spent a season as an assistant trainer with the football team. That was a team that included Jim McMahon as quarterback.
At that time Reynolds quit school as he was “trying to figure out life.” His parents now lived in Box Elder County and he moved there. He worked for three years at Thiokol’s space shuttle motor division.
After meeting his future wife Robyn, he eventually settled down and was married. He said “I deceived my wife into thinking I was a successful individual.” Robyn put Kevin through the rest of college and he finally graduated in 1989, 13 full years after he graduated from EHS. They are the parents of three girls, Katie, 15, Courtney, 13, and Kylie, 7. They also have one son, Kalin, 9. They make their home in Orangeville.
Reynolds’ assistants next year will be Neal Peacock, Eric Mortensen, Steven Gordon and Mark Justice. Positions have not been set as of yet. Reynolds says “the system will stay as it is, there will be no major changes now.” He added, “Football will be exciting and will keep the same high standards that we have had.”
Reynolds will adapt to the players that come out. All who want to play should come out, as Reynolds is anxious to prove himself and his abilities. Reynolds is holding weight training at the Spartan Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 7-9 a.m. and he encourages anyone wanting to play to attend these sessions although it is not required. Reynolds will begin holding practices in August and he’ll put everyone to work who shows up.