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Lehi • This place is known for "Footloose," not football. But behind the vision of second-year coach Ed Larson, the Lehi Pioneers have reason to dance again.
Intermittently scattered amongst years of mediocrity are glimmers of success, signs illuminating the potential lurking at Lehi. The Pioneers posted 10-1 seasons in 1980 and 1997. They went 11-3 in 2000 and 10-3 in 2002, but the program has predominantly lived below the .500 mark.
Larson had just led Timpanogos to postseason appearances in three out of four years when the Lehi gig opened up in 2014. He surprised everyone when he accepted the job. But he has looked past the ugly duckling appearance of the program and realized the Pioneers' hidden beauty.
"The opportunity to constantly reload here was high. I looked at the future," explained Larson, who said Lehi's little league participants are triple in numbers compared with Timpanogos. "I'm in my early 50s, and I said: 'If I'm making one more move, I want to be at a place where we have a chance to get these kids coming though the system for years to come.' "
Larson's first season would shake his confidence. Lehi slumped to an 0-10 season in which it was outscored by 190 points. Did he make the wrong decision? Did he abandon a good situation at Timpanogos for false hope?
"I won't lie to you and say, 'Oh it was always a great decision.' I think 0-10 brings out a lot of skeletons and brings a lot of things in your mind about what you want to accomplish," Larson said.
With Skyridge High School opening next year, Larson understood the advantage of the strong little league program could quickly evaporate. Lehi needed to pre-emptively revamp the program with a new identity and improve facilities to prevent younger athletes from jumping ship. The Pioneers designed a stylish new logo and reverted back to the roots by embracing the school colors — purple and white. They installed a state-of-the-art scoreboard and game clocks, and switched to the always popular artificial turf.
"We made a decision, and that was based on two things: We wanted to turn the program around, give it something new," Larson said. "The other reason was, in order to keep kids here, we've got to invest. I went to my principal, and he agreed with me. I said, 'We need to have the kids believe in something here.' "
The improvements resonated with the younger generation immediately. This season, Lehi has 11 sophomores starting on both sides of the ball.
"Everyone is starting to come to the games and have faith in the team," said sophomore quarterback Cammon Cooper. "They're starting to notice football more."
The Pioneers are 3-3 this season, which statistically is the best turnaround in the state from 2014. They were up 21-16 on Friday against last season's Class 5A runner-up, American Fork, before giving up 10 fourth-quarter points in the five-point loss. The Cavemen won the meeting last year by 21 points.
Larson said the team is still fighting through expected youthful mistakes, but the future is bright as the program improves each week.
"I love my players here," Larson said. "They're buying in — this group, I love every one of them. I think when I yell at them they don't believe that, but I love really love being around them. I love what we're doing here."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Pioneering change
After going 0-10 last season, Lehi is 3-3 this year, which statistically is the best turnaround in the state. Behind second-year coach Ed Larson, the school has invested in the football program with new facilities and a new identity.