Jason Walker is stepping down as head football coach at Westlake, leaving the program without the only figurehead it has ever known.

Walker said in an interview with the Tribune that he is getting a promotion at his job with Eagle Mountain City, and he decided his schedule would be spread too thin to continue his role as coach of the Thunder.

"I have to do what I feel is necessary, in fairness to the team and to the boys, to allow them to be successful," Walker said. "It was a lengthy process, but when we laid out our options on the table, I thought this would be the best decision for my family and for the team."

The 35-year-old Walker first came on board when Westlake opened, leading the Thunder to a 16-15 record in his three-year tenure and reaching the Class 4A playoffs each of the last two years.

"What I'm most proud of is helping the program be competitive quickly," Walker said. "We never said it was OK to lose because we're a new school. We expected to win. Whether it was right or not, our kids believed they could play with anyone."

This season, Westlake won its first-ever playoff game, beating Mountain Crest 23-14. It was a highlight in a difficult regular season during which the Thunder lost their first five games and only finished with a 4-7 record. Walker called the turnaround one of his most successful moments in the program, and cited a tough preseason as one of the factors that helped his team play better late.

Walker said he received the promotion right after the end of the regular season and took some time to discuss it with his wife.

Although he will no longer be head coach, he said he would be interested in a supporting role on the team, from assistant to a booster. Walker lives two minutes from the school and said he will continue to support Westlake football however the next coach sees fit. And there's always the chance that he could coach again down the road.

"I don't want to be a distraction by means, so if that means I need to step away from the program for a while, I'll do that," Walker said. "I don't worry about it too much. Things change, and another opportunity could always come up."

The Alpine School District will post the Westlake football opening on Wednesday.

- Kyle Goonkgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon