Chaparral’s Johnson moves to Sierra Vista

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Jan. 11, 2002 | 10:23 a.m.

After four years at Chaparral, Cowboys football coach Ben Johnson has accepted the head coaching position at first-year Sierra Vista High School.

"The chance to go to a new school with new facilities and build from the ground up was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Johnson said. "It will be a big challenge, and I'm looking forward to it."

Johnson, who came to Chaparral after coaching Indian Springs to two Class 1A state titles, leaves the school with a 22-16 record, including two trips to the regional playoffs.

"I had four wonderful years there with the coaches and the players," Johnson said. "I had a great experience at Chaparral High School."

In its inaugural season as an independent varsity squad, Sierra Vista went 0-7 under coach John Racek, who stepped down in November.

Chaparral joins Bonanza as the area's only two Class 4A schools with head coaching vacancies. Cimarron-Memorial recently hired former Meadows coach Frank DeSantis, and Cheyenne extended the tenure of Dave Snyder, who took over on an interim basis last fall.

Also, Clark's Jim Massey has hinted the 2001 season may have been his last, but has made nothing official yet.