Steve Coburn said he didn't expect to be leaving North Sanpete so soon — events just unfolded that way.

The former Snow College coach spent only one season with the Hawks, but an opening at Wasatch High School proved too tempting to pass up. He accepted the job last week.

"One of the things that drew us to Wasatch is it takes us closer to our family in Utah County," Coburn said. "That, combined with the school's great tradition in athletics and a top-of-the-line football facility, and we also felt it was a great community in which to live."

And so Coburn will take over the Wasps program, which has grasped for stability since coach Steve North was ousted after facing allegations of assaulting a student last March.

Wasatch went 5-5 under interim coach Craig Davis, but the school hopes Coburn can provide a long-term solution for what's ailed the football program.

"He has great experience and great leadership," athletic director Jason Watt said. "When you see what he's done everywhere he's been, he's built great programs."

Coburn admitted it was tough to leave the program where he was for the last year. The Hawks went 4-7 and lost a first-round playoff game to Grantsville.

He had a team meeting last Wednesday with the North Sanpete players, and told them he was moving on.

"It was a difficult meeting to have," he said. "I think they've got everything in line and in place to be successful, and there's a great foundation, but it does feel a little bit like unfinished business."

But the coach is turning his attention to Wasatch, which has some mending of its own to do.

He said he's been revitalized by coaching in high school, which he's found much less stressful than running a college program. Coburn sees himself staying at Wasatch for a while.

"Right now high school is the place to be at this time in my life," he said. "This program is hungry for stabiliy, and hopefully I can do what I've done in the past. Hopefully we can win some football games and try to heal at the same time."

- Kyle Goon
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon