SOUTH JORDAN — John Lambourne confirmed with the Deseret News on Monday that he’s stepped down as head football coach at Bingham High School after 20 seasons with the program, and the past six as the head coach. He guided the program to state titles in 2016 and 2017.
After 36 combined years of coaching football at four schools — which also included a stint as a girls basketball coach in the late ’80s at Taylorsville — Lambourne said it’s time to try something else.
“Because of all these awesome experiences that I’ve had and because of the length of time I’ve done it — 36 years — I’ve given it my all.” — John Lambourne
“I’m extremely grateful for the coaching opportunities and experiences that I’ve had up to this point,” said Lambourne, 56, who said he doesn’t believe he’s done coaching forever.
For now though he said he’s excited to take a break from coaching and write the next chapter in his life and spend more time with family.
“Because of all these awesome experiences that I’ve had and because of the length of time I’ve done it — 36 years — I’ve given it my all,” said Lambourne.
Lambourne confirmed with Bingham principal Rodney Shaw late last week of his intentions to resign as head coach, and informed the team on Monday morning.
Long-time Bingham offensive line coach Keith Chatelain also informed the team Monday that he is stepping down to return to his native Louisiana to be closer to his family.
Lambourne’s first season as an assistant at Bingham was in 2000, and then he took over as head coach in 2015 after coach Dave Peck resigned. Lambourne’s record as a head coach at Bingham was 56-9.
His other head coaching stint was at Hunter from 1994 to 1998 where he finished with a 40-15 record in five seasons.
Lambourne got his coaching start at the high school level as an assistant coach at Taylorsville in 1984.
Prior to joining the Bingham coaching staff in 2000, he was the head coach at Hunter from 1994 to 1998 where he led the Wolverines to a 40-15 record in five seasons. Before joining the Hunter stuff he was an assistant coach at Taylorsville, where he also coached the girls basketball team during the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, including winning the state title in 1989 led by future Olympian Natalie Williams.
Bingham is the third high school that is now searching for a new head coach this offseason. Provo’s Tony McGeary announced his retirement from coaching last month after six years as Provo’s head coach and 11 combined years as a head coach.