Head coaching change shocks Cheyenne football team

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 | 9:36 a.m.

Sitting in sixth period classes Monday, Cheyenne's football players received an usual announcement over the public address system: The team was to assemble in a classroom immediately after school.

In that meeting, Cheyenne administrators told stunned players that first-year head coach Marcus Sherman had resigned just three games into the season, and that Dave Snyder -- head varsity baseball coach and a former freshman and varsity football coach -- would take over immediately.

"It was a shock to us, and we still don't know what's going on," senior Kevin Richardson said. "All we know is we've got to get together as a team and come together. We've got to listen to Coach Snyder."

The unusual turn of events came just three days after the Desert Shields lost 19-14 at Desert Pines, dropping Cheyenne's record to 1-2 under Sherman, a former BYU player and graduate assistant.

Cheyenne athletic director Larry Johnson confirmed Sherman's resignation, but declined to elaborate on the specifics.

"He resigned today. I think it was a surprise for everybody," Johnson said. "It's a tough situation. They're all going to have to pull together and make the most of the situation."

Sherman did not return phone calls to his residence.

Snyder, in his seventh year at the school, was the head coach of the freshman squad last season after serving as a varsity and freshman assistant under coach George Perry, who resigned after last season. Snyder was not coaching football this season until Monday's practice.

"I was shocked. The principal called me in and asked me if I'd do it," Snyder said. "It's not something I planned for. I'm doing it for the kids.

"It won't be easy -- it wouldn't be easy for Don Shula to take over in the middle of the year. But I've coached most of these kids before, so they shouldn't have a big adjustment to me."

Snyder, who said he is the head coach on an interim basis, said he would stick with Sherman's playbook initially before gradually introducing his own system.

"Everything is going to be done slowly," Snyder said. "You don't come in and change all the offensive or defensive schemes and expect the kids to do it well."

Richardson, the team's starting quarterback a year ago, played only on the defensive side under Sherman until last Friday, when he came off the bench. He passed for two touchdowns, and said Snyder indicated he would start behind center this week at Foothill.

Richardson also said senior Craig Hill, a starting fullback on last year's squad who opted not to play for Sherman, would likely return to practice today. Snyder said the "door is open" for Hill to return."