Adrian Koch wasn't stopping. The former Arizona Wildcats linebacker was prepared to interview for every open head football coaching position in Southern Arizona until someone gave him his chance.
He won't have to worry about preparing for any more interviews anytime soon, thanks to Pueblo High School.
Koch, who played at the UA from 1997 to 2000, was named the new head coach of the Warriors earlier this month. He had interviewed for more than five openings over the past two years, before getting his first opportunity.
"I was just waiting for someone to realize how serious I was about being a head coach and how badly I wanted it," Koch said. "I believe I have what it takes to teach football at the high school level, and now I have to prove it."
Here's a piece of advice: Don't bet against Koch.
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After graduating from Desert View in 1992, Koch wanted to play college football, but knew he had to get bigger. Instead of going to a junior college or working out on his own, the linebacker joined the Marine Corps for four years.
He then decided to walk on to Dick Tomey's squad at Arizona and earned a scholarship within a year because of his hard work.
By his senior year, Koch was starting at outside linebacker next to future NFL standouts Antonio Pierce and Lance Briggs. He was also named special teams captain.
"They saw someone who had a lot of passion and was willing to work," said Koch about the coaches' decision to name him captain.
Now, Pueblo will get an up-close look at Koch's passion and willingness to work.
Koch has spent the past two seasons at his alma matter, Desert View, as the defensive coordinator under head coach Jim Monaco. Before that, he began his high school coaching career at Tucson High.
The former linebacker interviewed for the Tucson High opening but was passed up in favor of former Mountain View coach Justin Argraves. Koch also interviewed for the Sahuarita opening and a couple of other jobs over the past two years.
"I just didn't want to be an assistant coach anymore," Koch said. "I was ready to run my own program and put my imprint on it."
He's already trying to put that imprint on the Warriors program. The team works out in the morning in the weight room and follows that up with classroom work and passing drills.
"This is my first opportunity to show who I am, and it could be my last," Koch said. "I'm putting everything I have into it."
Sahuarita hires Rodriguez
Sahuarita filled its opening earlier this month when the Mustangs hired David Rodriguez to lead its football program.
Rodriguez has spent the past two seasons at Sahuaro as the team's offensive coordinator and previously served as the head coach at Desert View (2005-06).
He's the school's sixth head coach since 2002.
Weintraub to swim for URI
University High School's Kaley Rose Weintraub will swim collegiately at Rhode Island next season. She will enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Weintraub is also an accomplished synchronized swimmer and competed at the 2008 National Synchronized Swimming Championships with the Tucson Sun Rays.
