PLEASANT GROVE — Pleasant Grove High School has announced that Les Hamilton has accepted its head coaching vacancy.
The unexpected move came one season after Hamilton became Hunter's head coach.
"Before I accepted the Hunter job, I told them that I planned on being there at least three years. I kind of had an out clause — there were three schools that if they opened up, I'd be very interested in interviewing for those," said Hamilton. "I had no idea any of those three would open up and Pleasant Grove just happened to be one of them.
"My wife's family is from Utah County, so there were a lot of things going to interview for this job. To be honest with you, I really had no idea that I would get the job. I knew there was a really good list of applicants. I'm very grateful and fortunate to have gotten the job."
The information regarding the hiring came to fruition late Tuesday night and confirmed Wednesday afternoon. However, Hamilton requested the news not be announced until Thursday because he hadn't had the opportunity to talk to his Hunter players and wished to tell them personally about his decision.
"I'd like to thank the Deseret News and their regard for this story for allowing me to have an opportunity to share this with my team before the media," said Hamilton.
Leaving Hunter after such a short time frame wasn't an easy decision for Hamilton.
"I love Hunter High school. I feel like they've got great kids there, a great community," he said. "They've been very supportive … they're fantastic. I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever with Hunter High school.
"I know it's a hard situation. These guys (Hunter) have lost two coaches in a year and I know it's disheartening for them. It's hard for everybody but this is the right move for my family and me at this time and I'm excited to be able to go to Pleasant Grove."
This is the fourth program in the past nine years Hamilton has been at the helm with stints at Grantsville, Alta and Hunter. He has a 77-37 record.
Hamilton established himself as one of the state's premier coaches during his tenor at Alta. In six years with the Hawks, the 39-year old coach from Petaluma, Calif., garnished a 60-19 record with back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008. Alta also made appearances in the state semifinals five straight years with at least a share of the region championship from 2005-09.
In his final year with the Sandy-based program Hamilton underwent scrutiny when allegations of stealing apparel, accepting pay-to-play bribes, withholding college-recruiting letters from students and financial inconsistencies in the program surfaced. However, the Canyons School District acquitted him of any fraudulent accusations after a month-long investigation.
Shortly after his resignation, Hamilton relocated to Chile for an opportunity for career advancement in the fishing industry. Six months later he decided to return to Utah after his oldest son was struggling with the language barrier in seventh grade while in South America.
He's now a resident in Orem, which is located much closer to Pleasant Grove than Hunter High in West Valley, which he credits as the main factor for the move.
"Most of it has to do with location and opportunity to coach at a school that's closer and a great school like Pleasant Grove," said Hamilton when asked what influenced his decision. "On a personal note, Pleasant Grove is an opportunity to be a part of a community. My children are getting to the age, my oldest boy is going to be a freshman next year, and I want to be able to watch him to go throughout high school and this gives me that opportunity."
Hamilton takes over for Dale Sampson, who stepped down after nine seasons with the program with a 50-44 record.
He'll be left with the task of restoring a Pleasant Grove program that finished 3-7 and failed to qualify for the playoffs after losing seven of its final eight games. Prior to last season, the Vikings had made an appearance in the playoffs for five straight years and advanced to the 5A semifinals in 2006.
"There's no doubt that Pleasant Grove is one of the elite high school programs in the state," said Hamilton. "So I know the expectation level in the community and the school itself (is) high. That's what makes it fun. It makes it exciting when every Friday night you're going into a big game."
Hamilton has a history of quick turnarounds. In his first year at Grantsville, he guided the Cowboys to the 3A state championship game one year removed from a team that was three games below .500. In 2005, after Alta had gone 4-6 the previous year, he stratified the win total by five games and earned a berth in the 5A semifinals.
His spread offense has routinely produced numbers and is the catalyst to his success. In his nine years of coaching, his teams have averaged 28.5 points per game. During his time at Alta, the Hawks were one of the most explosive teams in the state, posting 33 points per game including leading the state in scoring in 2007 with 555 points in 14 games.
The last two years have been a different story with two consecutive losing records in his final and only seasons at Alta and Hunter. Last year marked career-low numbers for Hamilton-ran teams, with three straight shutouts offensively to start the 2011 season. The Wolverines managed to score a mere 12.5 points per contest in 10 games before losing to eventual state champion Lone Peak, 51-6, in the first round.
"Right now it's bittersweet. I'm very, very excited to be a Pleasant Grove Viking, but I'm also leaving behind a lot of young men and families that I care a lot about," Hamilton said. "It's bittersweet right now but I'm sure the excitement tomorrow is going to be a little bit more and each day as I get closer to being able to be on the field with those guys down at Pleasant Grove. I'm really excited and I think good things (are) to come."
EMAIL: tphibbs@desnews.com