Aaron Cupp, a former Brigham Young University fullback, is returning to the Western Conference.
Cupp accepted Stanwood High School’s head football coach job on April 6. The 1999 BYU graduate coached in Oregon the past three seasons. Before that, he was a Meadowdale High football assistant for four seasons.
“The community support and the kids up there are fantastic — everything you want to build your program,” Cupp said of Stanwood. “They have a pretty strong tradition there.”
Cupp replaces former Stanwood coach Dick Abrams, who resigned in January, citing a desire to explore other career options. Abrams’ record was 36-32 in seven seasons.
At Meadowdale from 2002-05, Cupp mainly worked with quarterbacks and receivers. He learned a lot from Mavericks head coach Mark Stewart.
“It was fantastic. He really has such a good perspective on preparation and the way he runs his practices and game plans,” Cupp said. “As a young coach, there’s not a better guy to learn from.”
Cupp was also head track coach and taught English at Meadowdale. In 2006 he began a two-year stint as head football coach at Willamina High in Oregon. He guided Willamina, which Cupp said has about 400 students, to the Class 3A playoffs both seasons, including a quarterfinal trip his first year. His overall record was 11-7.
In 2008 Cupp left Willamina — the nearly two-hour daily commute was too much, he said — and became a coach/teacher at Stayton High. As an assistant coach working with defensive backs and running backs, he helped Stayton’s football team go 6-4 just a year after it went 1-9.
“We really like the fact that he was a head coach,” Stanwood athletic director Tom Wilfong said of Cupp, one of about a dozen who applied for the Spartans head coach position. Four were interviewed.
“His interview was very strong. He’s very kid-centered,” Wilfong said, praising Cupp’s confidence and organization.
Stanwood was not able to offer Cupp a teaching job but Cupp said he eventually hopes to be an in-building coach. He plans to move to Washington in early June.
Asked what stands out about Cupp, Meadowdale’s Stewart said: “He brought that (BYU playing) experience and he brought a lot of good ideas and a lot of enthusiasm and energy.”
At Brigham Young, Cupp played one season with Steve Sarkisian, the former Cougars quarterback who is now the University of Washington’s head football coach. Cupp said his first collegiate touchdown came on a 14-yard pass from Sarkisian.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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