Eric Sorenson
Sometimes, what goes around, comes around – and for Cortez head coach Brian Cole, what’s old is now, well…new.
The three-time Arizona state champion, who has hoisted gold balls in 1A, 2A and 5A, is back where it all started, and ready to help the Colts make a stampede this fall.
First & Foremost
Cole and Cortez first met way back in 1992.
After coaching an over-achieving nearby Pop Warner team the year before, one of Cole’s assistants, now well-known long snapping coach, Ben Bernard, was on his staff. Bernard’s father-in-law, Buzz Turner, was the basketball coach at Cortez. The Colts were looking to add football staff members and the connection was made.
Fast forward to today and there’s another Cortez connection for Cole, linking past to present. CHS’s current Athletic Director, Brian Galbreath, worked on the same staff towards the back half of Cole’s first tenure.
“It’s a huge reason I went back,” Cole said to the “Zone Read” in a recent interview. “If it wasn’t for Brian being there, and me having a past there, I don’t know if I really would have looked into that job, but I’m glad I did.”
Cole served as the Colts’ offensive coordinator for six seasons during his initial stint with the program.
A Road Map for Success
Cortez High School won’t be the first name off anyone’s tongue when it comes to discussing the “who’s who” of Arizona high school football. In fact, the Colts endured a 50-game losing streak, which ended in 2022, and hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2005.
Cole has never been afraid of a challenge. He led North Canyon to a perfect 14-0 record and 5A-II State Championship in 2011. The year before, the Rattlers finished 4-6.
Now, he’s rolling up his sleeves again, ready to start from the ground up at CHS, who currently competes at the 2A level.
“When you go into a program, there’s a lot of things stopping it from being successful,” Cole explained. “You gotta get in there and find out why it hasn’t been.
“Right now, at Cortez, the numbers have been down. There’s simply not a lot of participation, which could be for a number of different reasons. So, it’s getting in there and finding out what they weren’t doing that could help them be successful. You gotta walk the hallways and recruit kids, first. Get in the junior highs and get the kids excited about Cortez.”
He feels a culture change can not only happen, but happen fast if there is alignment within the program, as well as the school and surrounding community.
The veteran coach is transparent with his priorities in coming back to where it all started nearly 35 years ago.
“I’m going [to Cortez] for the kids,” Cole continued. “It’s not necessarily about winning championships. Everybody likes to win – don’t get me wrong. But, right now, I want to go there and help the kids. Give them something they’re missing and an opportunity to have some success…it’s been a long time.”
No Weighting Around
Part of Cole’s Cortez 2.0 coaching stint is simply controlling what he can control. starting from within.
The sweat equity in the off-season can pay dividends in the fall. The small off-season conditioning “wins” help for bonds for programs looking to establish a new identity, regardless of their lack of on-field success in the fall.
Cole fully understands the big picture priorities this time of year.
“I think the weight room in the off season is something I’ve been really good at with the kids,” he noted. “I’ve built programs through the off season and in the weight room.
“That’s the first thing we’re going to attack and go after. We’ll see what happens.”
The veteran head coach is fully aware a trust will need to be established with his new team. Most of the current players haven’t experienced a winning season and, likely, winning habits. Building that bridge will take time and the process can’t be understated, especially considering the football calendar will be turning to March in just a matter of days.
“We’re behind,” stressed Cole. “We need to work with a sense of urgency. Show up. Let’s get in the weight room and start doing the off-season stuff that’s going to make you successful.
“I’ve always been relational with the kids. I want to get to know them and find out who they are.
“That’s why I love the weight room so much. It’s a great place to do that.”
A Fresh Perspective
After the 2024 season, Cole’s career hit a bit of a crossroad.
Great having lunch and hanging out with these guys today! 🏈💪💪
@GarrickCanady52
@braydar22
@BentleyCorbin21 pic.twitter.com/Cq46nEQEka— Coach Cole (@CoachCole42) April 11, 2025
Just two years after leading O’Connor to the Open Division playoffs, Cole was dismissed in early December of ’24.
With a desire to stay involved in the game, he was hired to be the running backs coach at Brophy Prep – a role he served this past season. Not only did Cole help the Broncos find success on the field (BCP advanced to the second round of The Open), he gained fresh perspective for the game working on Jason Jewell’s talented staff.
“It was really good for me,” Cole said without hesitation. “I had been a head coach for 21 years. I hadn’t been an assistant on a staff in quite some time. That was kind of weird, in a good way.
“It made me think of some things, as head coach. How assistant coaches are looked at and how they’re treated. Maybe some things over the past few years, as a head coach, I was overlooking a little bit.
It was great for me…I was really appreciative that Jason asked me to be on his staff. I had fun.
“But, it made me realize, I believe there’s more in me to give to the kids as a head coach.”
You’re never too old to go home – even over three decades later.
