On Aug. 29, history will be made in high school football in southern Utah County.

But long before such a landmark event will take place, the area's newest high school athletic program had to be built from the ground up.

Such was the job handed to new Salem Hills athletic director Steve Downey.

"I started full time on Jan. 2 and we were at ground zero," Downey explained. "I started out by interviewing and hiring coaches. Usually you have to fill one or two coaching positions and some years you don't have to fill any. We had to get an entire staff."

Downey spent 30 years at Orem High School as a teacher, coach and administrator before retiring last year, so he understood to some degree what the Skyhawks would be looking for.

"Coming in I had certain expectations," he explained. "I had a little idea of what I thought we could do but I think we really surpassed those. I really feel comfortable with our head coaches. I think we have a very strong staff, but it's going to need to be because it will be a challenge for the first couple of years."

The distrcit opened up the positions and the Salem Hills administration went to work.

Many of the coaches they hired are familiar to those that have been around prep sports in Utah Valley: Jimmy DeGraffenried in boys basketball, Scott Haney in baseball, Bart Thompson in track, and Monte Morgan in football to name a few.

"I wanted to stay in coaching and I had some mutual friends that got me acquainted with Downey," Morgan explained when his hiring was announced in January. "We talked on the phone and the more I thought about it, the more it felt like a good opportunity."

With everyone starting fresh at the new school, Downey has some clear ideas about how he wants the program to develop.

"We need to establish a mission statement and what traditions we'd like to have at Salem Hills," the Skyhawk athletic director said. "I want to get everyone on the same page and support each other. My philosophy is that we want kids to feel comfortable participating in as many sports and activities as they can. We also want to do everything the right way."

Downey said that he believes it will be a challenge to have everyone see the same vision but feels that everyone starting fresh will make that easier.

After the head coaching spots were filled, Downey and the coaches began working on filling out the coaching staffs but that is providing its own challenges.

"We're limited with teaching openings because we're set up to take teachers from both Payson and Spanish Fork, depending on how many kids enroll," Downey said. "Hopefully we'll be able to fill some positions, but I know the coaches have been working hard on getting their assistants."

Having been at Orem when both Mountain View and Timpanogos opened up, Downey understands that it can be tough to see good assistant coaches leave to take positions at a nearby school.

"As an established school, you don't want to lose your best people," he said. "I've now been on both sides and it's a challenge both ways. My approach at Orem was to tell them (the coaches that left) good luck and then enjoy the challenge of playing against them on the field."

Once the coaching situation was in hand, Salem Hills turned it's attention to equipment.

"First we had the coaches put lists together of what they needed," Downey said. "We went over those lists and then talked to the various sports equipment providers and we're now in the process of going over bids."

Downey has done much of the equipment work himself because he felt like the coaches had plenty to worry about. He did, however, give them the chance to design their own uniforms and he said he feels like they've enjoyed that opportunity.

Much of the preparatory work with coaches and equipment -- as well as the facilities themselves which are nearing completion -- appear to be in good shape. Now the question is who will be coached and use the equipment.

Downey said that most new schools allow seniors living in their boundaries to decide whether to change schools or remain at their original high school, but the Nebo School District has elected to make it an option for anyone who has participated in any activities.

"That's going to make it a little tougher for us athletically," he admitted. "Students that we originally thought would be coming here may choose to stay at Payson and Spanish Fork. But I feel really comfortable with what's going to happen eventually because I think the area will provide plenty of talented kids."

The teams should already be nearly set with their schedules, with their league slate already organized. The Skyhawks will compete the first year in Class 3A in Region 8, but that may change after that depending on the results of the current realignment.

Even with the challenges and difficulties, Downey said that the process so far has been very rejuvenating for him.

"The best thing for me has been the wonderful people I've gotten to meet and work with," he said. "I think it will be even better when we get the kids in here and I can do the things I was hired to do."

The athletic director said if he could start over, he would probably do some minor things differently, like refining the equipment purchasing procedure.

The two other new schools that are scheduled to open in 2009 -- Saratoga Springs and Maple Mountain -- might be interested in getting some ideas on the process and Downey said he's more than happy to help out.

"When I got this job, I went and talked to the athletic director at the new Syracuse High School," he said. "I did thing a little differently, but that sure helped out. There's no need to reinvent the wheel and I think I could have some insight that would make things smoother for those two new schools."

For this year, Downey and the Skyhawks are hoping to have a lot of fun and give kids plenty of great opportunities. Oh, and they also hope to get some wins.

"We want to prepare to win every game," Downey said. "We want to play as best we can and everything else will take care of itself."

Maybe they'll see the fruits of that preparation on Aug. 29 and start off with a perfect 1-0 record.

• Jared Lloyd can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Info box

Salem Hills High School

Mascot: Skyhawks

Colors: Light and dark blue

Estimated enrollment: 1,065

2008-09 classification: Class 3A, Region 8

Address: 150 N. Skyhawk Blvd., Salem, UT 84653

Web site: http://www.nebo.edu/shhs/index.html

Coaches: Monte Morgan, football

Lee Gillie, boys and girls soccer

Kathy Treanor, volleyball

Bart Thompson, track and cross country

Karl Ward, girls tennis

Jimmy DeGraffenreid, boys basketball

Brad Geddes, girls basketball

T.J. Brindley, wrestling

Scott Haney, baseball

Ralph Jamsa, boys tennis

Danielle Ryan, softball