A NEW REGION: Class 1A will have another region in it, beginning next school year, if a proposal by the Utah High School Activities Association's Executive Committee is passed at the next Board of Trustees meeting.
A new Region 17 will be formed out of eight private schools -- including the new Wasatch Prep Academy, which will be renamed to avoid confusion with other "Wasatch" schools -- from the northern part of Region 14. The new Region 14 will be comprised of Dugway, Meridian, Tintic, Wendover, West Desert and newcomers East Carbon, Wasatch Academy and Shiloah Valley.At its meeting this week, the Executive Committee also approved the creation of Endowment Games, which will allow teams to play one extra game with 50 percent of the gross gate revenue going to the UHSAA.
The Executive Committee decided to ban ejected coaches from attending the team's next game. Concerning the coaches, the committee also is considering fining and/or penalizing those who criticize on officiating to the media.
The calendar for the 1999-2000 school year was approved as well, though it still needs approval from potential host sites. Regarding that, the UHSAA is hoping to keep the 4A and 5A boys' basketball tournaments at Weber State, while holding the 4A and 5A girls' tourneys a week earlier at SLCC. The football championships for 4A and 5A will again be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium. And the UHSAA will attempt to hold the five classification's wrestling tournaments at the same time at UVSC.
GOING OUT A WINNER: Timpview basketball coach Don Chamberlain will go out a champion. After coaching for 26 years, including the past 11 at Timpview, Chamberlain has decided to retire.
Chamberlain's Thunderbirds recently finished a terrific season, going 22-3 and impressively winning the 4A championship.
"It's been a good year; now it's time to get out," said Chamberlain to the Orem Daily Journal. "To win the way we did this year couldn't have been a better way to end."
In his career, Chamberlain posted a 195-66 record with two state titles and four region championships.
Those interested in the coaching position at the Provo school should call Timpview High at 801-224-9720.