Stuart Jeck, a PE teacher and coach of 6 years at MSHS, announced his departure from the school at the end of the year. He will be taking a new position as assistant head football coach and head of strength and conditioning at Doherty High School next school year.
This spring, the position for head football coach at Doherty High School in District 11 opened and when all the hiring rounds finished Jeck came up short. “I took second place. I lost to a guy coming out of Denver,” Jeck said, “but as a result of that, they wanted to keep me on staff, so I became the new head coach’s first hire.”
Although Jeck was hired for an assistant position, this was an opportunity for him to step up to the next level of his career in coaching football at a 4A school.
Athletic director Cameron Jones was one of the first to find out about the situation. “It was later in winter sports that there had been a job posting that he was interested in,” Jones said.
Jones knew from the beginning that Jeck’s main goal was to move to a higher position in the coaching world. “I always knew that at some point, Coach Jeck would be exploring, to step up to the next thing,” Jones said. “So I wasn’t surprised, and I fully supported him in looking.”
Leaving his position here at Manitou, Jeck is ready for the next level of sports at the high school level. “I’ve had great leadership here, a great mentorship, and a great staff,” Jeck said. “I couldn’t be thankful enough for that.”
Jones believes in coaches who do more than just win games but rather make an impact off the field. “Having a transformational purpose behind what you do, Coach Jeck was that,” Jones said.
Jeck’s care for more than the sport was displayed early on and Jones was appreciative of it. “He loves the game, but I think he loves even more than that, what the game does for kids,” Jones said.
Jeck’s passion for football and winning games goes beyond the field. He believes that making an impact on the students is just as important. “The purpose for me is to make sure these young men are ready to go for what the real world is going to present to them,” Jeck said.
According to his athletes and colleagues, Jeck has prepared his teams for the world beyond football. “I am extremely thankful, Manitou has prepared me for this next step in my career,” Jeck said, “I’m excited for this next step, but of course I have a lot of gratitude for Manitou Springs High School.”
