Before anyone out there thinks that athletic directors just sit inside their offices all day and don’t go through similar emotions to coaches at their respective schools, think again. 

“The win-loss record in fall has been challenging, but a lot of incredible things are happening,” said Cottonwood High School Athletic Director James MacIntyre. 

The new AD is in charge of transforming the Colts into a program capable of ushering CHS into this new era of name, image and likeness — an era the Utah High School Athletics and Activities Association has endorsed.  

MacIntyre comes to Cottonwood directly from the University of Utah, where he worked in that school’s NIL compliance office. He had some compliments for the Colts girls’ teams. 

“Soccer earned its first win on Wednesday with a group of girls who are new to the sport and stayed committed all year to showing up and growing,” MacIntyre said. “Tennis had record numbers out and sent No. 1 doubles and singles to state. Volleyball is fighting for a state berth. Beat region No. 1, Murray, this week and beat Judge last night.”

Cottonwood’s AD is right on top of things at the school. Along with his coaches, MacIntyre is riding all the highs and lows that come with these jobs. Though girls soccer has experienced a tough season — through circumstances that were largely beyond the coaches’ control — those Colts finished strong. 

Girls volleyball has built momentum over a period of several difficult years in which head coach Michaela Hatch has had to start from square one and ascend the peak slowly. Now those Colts are 4-4 in region play, their best record in the league since Hatch took over. 

Not only that, but Cottonwood girls volleyball is also 6-11 overall and sits in the middle of the pack in Region 10 after wins at rival Murray and East. 

By the time you’re reading this article, the Colts girls volleyball team could be headed for the state tournament; it depends how they finish the final five games of the regular season. If the state tournament started today, Cottonwood would be in based on its No. 23 ranking in the latest 4A RPI. 

On the boys’ side, MacIntyre, aka James Mac from his days as a high school head coach and college assistant in basketball, said all three fall sports are showing improvements, as well. 

“Golf had more students try out than in the last 10 years. Sending No. 1 single to state next week,” MacIntyre said. He added, the “Football scores have been rough, but that team has grown and put up its best offensive performance last week.” 

In other Cottonwood sports news, senior boys golfer Tommy Yates will play at 4A state tournament as an individual qualifier.

Although the season did not pan out like the Cottonwood Colts boys golf team wanted, and the squad finished in sixth place in Region 10 of Class 4A, there were a few bright spots. 

Yates was Cottonwood’s No. 1 all season and qualified for the 4A state tournament set to begin later this month. 

Yates was selected to the All-Region 10 Team for the fourth consecutive year. He averaged 72.7 strokes per every 18 holes played this season and will play in his final state tournament as a Colt. 

Yates played in his final region tournament on Sept. 29 at The Ridge in West Valley City. Yates finished in fourth place with a 72. Lucian Roumpos was 11th, hitting 74 for the Colts.