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Cottonwood has hired Woods Cross defensive coordinator Mike Tidwell as its next football coach, The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Tidwell served as the head of the Wildcats' defense, which limited opponents to 13.8 points per game in 2014, the past three seasons after previously coaching the defensive secondary at Stansbury. Although this is his first heading coaching position, Tidwell is confident in the defensive schematics he plans to instill with the Colts.

"Just a strong, nasty defense," Tidwell said. "If people wanted to know who I was, and what it was like to watch Woods Cross, they'd see a team that played as a team. They trusted each other, and played to the very last down."

Tidwell is the nephew of Paul Tidwell, who oversees inside linebackers at BYU. He credited his relationship with his uncle for part of his quick ascension through the coaching ranks, but said he'll need to adjust to the added responsibilities that correlate with being the head coach.

"I'm actually overwhelmed with the thought of having to deal with fundraising and finances," Tidwell said. "It will be more of having to learn the ropes. I've got a lot of mentors that I'll be able to lean on. As a head coach it's very easy to do things that can get yourself in trouble when all you think you're doing is something good, whether it's a fundraiser, or to help a family out."

Tidwell has extended offers to Andy Gunther and Craig Whitehead, who coached defensive backs and the defensive line at Woods Cross, to join his staff at Cottonwood. Tidwell said he has already been contacted by numerous potential candidates, as well as receiving several recommendations for coaching hires.

The first order of business is to restore trust among the Cottonwood faithful, Tidwell said. The Colts have not won a playoff game since the 2011 season after playing for the state championship in 2008.

"I'm looking to re-establish the tradition that Cottonwood has traditionally had of being a powerhouse football program," Tidwell said. "I want to bring back that excitement that used to be around Cottonwood. … I'm excited about how hungry Cottonwood is to have something new and fresh in there."

-Trevor Phibbs

Twitter: @trevorphibbs