| J.P. Salisbury stalks the sideline during a game in October. He will not return to coach Carbon this year. |
After weighing his options, Coach JP Salisbury informed Carbon High that he wouldn’t be returning as the head football coach for the 2007 season. Despite a losing season, Salisbury had been excited about returning to coach the young kids coming up. But family and education came first and he had to look at another direction.
Salisbury had been taking classes to complete his teaching degree. He ended up off track in the USU schedule. Looking at three semesters before he could get back to where he was made him look at other options.
With his wife traveling to work already, being a commuter student wasn’t in the family’s best interest so he began to send out feelers. Connecting with SEU Head Coach Meyer’s he asked about the possibility of being a grad assistant. Meyers was positive in his reply and Salisbury’s decision was set into motion. He still needs to finish his bachelors degree this summer before the offer can be finalized but the potential for him and his family is worth the change. He is also still entertaining other options for his post graduate degree and will continue to make contacts this summer.
Salisbury initially came into the Carbon High coaching position looking to build a long term successful program. He had begun making some steps toward that despite the dismal season the team had. He feels his biggest achievement in his short tenure as coach was to put in place a solid off-season program to get the kids in playing shape all year round. Right now there are 25-30 kids who are participating in the program, working out hard in the weight room.
He also thinks one of his most controversial moves has helped the team in the long run. As the season progressed he separated the older and younger kids in practice and in segregated locker rooms. The coaching staff struggled with attitude issues from the older boys and tried not to let that get ingrained in the younger players’ heads and work ethics.
His biggest regrets of the year centered on the same issue. He felt he was too tolerant of some things that he should have cracked down on. “I was so afraid of losing kids and we needed the seniors and the numbers,” he remarked. “I guess I needed to stick to my guns and cut our losses when there were disciplinary problems. It would have been better for the long term,” continued the former coach.
He has heard that the field of applicants was fairly small and he added his two cents for a replacement. “I hope Rex Jeppson is chosen. I think he can add some of the program infrastructure and support that has been missing for a few years from this program.”
He wrapped up his interview with the following sentiment. “I want to thank everyone for the support they gave me. But the program needs a lot more support. Please don’t second guess and back stab the new coaching staff. Have faith.” He added for the parents of the players. “Stay positive at home and be positive. It takes time. Even with my vast football experience, I know if all the pieces don’t come together then nothing will change.” He summed it up with one final thought. “Come together as a community and give the program and coaching staff the support it needs to become a success.”