Note: Jordan finished with a 3-8 overall record in 2019 and was fifth in Region 3 with a 1-4 record. It was RPI seed No. 18 in the 6A playoffs, and was eliminated by Herriman 37-19 in second round.
SANDY — After many years as an assistant coach at a number of schools in Utah, Rodregis Smith is finally getting the chance to lead a program, as he’s taken over the Jordan Beetdiggers.
While it’s Smith’s first head coaching experience, it comes at a place he’s familiar with, as he was an assistant at Jordan for six seasons before his most recent stops at West and Kearns.
“I just made a circle all the way back around back to Jordan,” he said.
Calling Jordan “familiar territory,” Smith considers himself fortunate it’s worked out this way even after he put his name in the ring at other places.
“I’m just blessed to be back at Jordan High,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for me and my family and for my coaching staff, for the kids I get to work with. Just an overall blessing.”
Like many coaches taking over programs, Smith faces some challenges, as the Beetdiggers finished just 3-8 last season, and he’ll have to replace a bunch of production.
Still, he’s taking the approach that players will have to earn their spots as time goes on.
“With me, at this point in time, there’s nobody penciled in,” he said. “I’ve got guys that are out here working hard, but they have to earn it. It’s not going to be given to them. They’ve got to continuously earn it.”
Jordan Beetdiggers at a glance
Coach Smith’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“You’re faced with new issues. It’s going to be very challenging, but me, my (players), my coaching staff, administration and athletic director have been able to work with each other and work to put the kids in the best position to be successful as well as the coaches.”
Jordan offensive napshot
Offensive coordinator: Steve Lilly
2019 offense: 19.5 (21st in 6A)
2019 offensive statistics
- 1 returning starter
- Spread offense
Returning offensive starters
- Trey Tinsley (TBD)
Offensive newcomers to watch
- Elijah Martin (WR)
- Jayden Filipe (RB/WR)
- Zach Austin (TBD)
- Kauai Aiono (OL)
- Sam Evans (OL)
- Xen Logan (OL)
- Jovi Griffiths (OL)
Coach Smith’s keys for offensive success in 2020:
“We have to pay attention to detail, meaning that we have to do the little things first ... it’s the small details of things that we have to do in order to be successful.”
Jordan defensive snapshot
Defensive coordinator: Rodregis Smith
2019 defense: 34.5 ppg (24th in 6A)
2019 defensive statistics
- 3 returning starters
- 3-4 defense
Returning defensive starters
- Alex Parrish (DB)
- Hayden Barr (LB)
- Mason Lund (DL)
Defensive newcomers to watch
Elijah Martin (LB)
Jayden Filipe (LB)
Jovi Griffiths (LB)
Ruben Davalos (DB)
Caesar Hernandez (DB)
JaMarcus Smith (LB/DB)
Caleb Rudd (DL/LB)
Deilien Taulapapa (DB)
Coach Smith’s keys for defensive success in 2020:
“You’ve got to be able to have eye discipline. Your eyes have got to be good and we’ve got to trust the guy next to us to do their job because you’re going to do your job the correct way.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
Smith is walking into a tough situation needing to rebuild at Jordan, especially in a Region 3 that perennially has some of the best teams in the state. Can he at least set a good foundation this year for what he envisions the program to be? That would be a good start, even if a bunch of wins don’t come right away.
Felt’s Facts for Jordan
- All-time record: 558-437-28 (110 years)
- Region championships: 26 (1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1958, 1961, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 co, 1989, 1991, 1993 co, 1994, 1998, 2002 co, 2005-co, 2012)
- Playoff appearances: 49
- All-time playoff record: 58-37
- State championships: 12 (1931, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1994, 2012)
- State championship record: 12-4
- Most played rivalry: 66 meetings with Granite dating back to 1909. Jordan leads the series 32-29-5. Last met in 1994.
Last 5 seasons
- 2019 — 3-8 (1-4 in Region 3 – 6A Second round)
- 2018 — 6-5 (4-1 in Region 7 – 5A Quarterfinals)
- 2017 — 7-5 (2-3 in Region 7 - 5A Quarterfinals)
- 2016 — 8-3 (5-1 in Region 3 – 5A Quarterfinals)
- 2015 — 8-3 (5-1 in Region 3 – 5A First round)
Jordan coaching history
- 2020 — Rodregis Smith (0-0)
- 2017-2019 — Kaleo Teriipaia (16-19)
- 2009-2016 — Eric Kjar (69-29) *1 state title
- 2003-2008 — Alex Jacobson (35-32)
- 1989-2002 — Jim Birch (80-64) *1 state title
- 1986-1988 — Al Watrin (22-11)
- 1980-1985 — Rick Bojak (46-23)
- 1978-1979 — Bob Andrus (4-13)
- 1973-1977 — Doug Berry (16-31)
- 1972 — Tom Keller (1-8)
- 1971 — Ray Odette (3-7)
- 1969-1970 — Randy Autentico (2-13-3)
- 1967-1968 — Dean Stringham (5-13)
- 1966 — Bob Sanchez (1-8)
- 1965 — Tom Louazt (3-6)
- 1962-1964 — Evert Jones (14-11-1)
- 1961 — Glen Jackson (9-1)
- 1954-1960 — Howard Linford (19-35)
- 1950-1953 — Dale Sorensen (21-13-3) *1 state title
- 1935-1949 — Dunn Taylor (106-29-7) *7 state titles
- 1931-1934 — Eddie Kimball (31-5-2) *2 state titles
- 1928-1930 — E.G. Foxley (9-10-1)
- 1920-1927 — O.D. Ballard (22-27-6)
- 1919 — Spike Gardner (5-2)
- 1918 — Parker Pratt (0-0)
- 1914-1917 — “Blondy” Hamilton (10-12-1)
- 1913 — unknown (2-4)
- 1909-1912 — O.G. Dutton (7-12-1)
Jordan All-State at-a-glance
Deseret News Mr. Football recipients
- 2012 — Austin Kafentzis, QB
Deseret News MVPs the past 10 years
- 2018 — Steve Street, OLB
- 2018 — Wyatt Jones, CB
- 2014 — Austin Kafentzis, QB
- 2012 — B.J. Cavender, OL
Deseret News First Team all-staters the past 10 years
- 2019 — Motuga Tuileta, OT
- 2017 — Crew Wakley, QB
- 2016 — Crew Wakley, QB
- 2016 — Spencer Curtis, WR
- 2016 — Heneli Avendano, DT
- 2015 — Drew Lisk, QB
- 2015 — Justin Cobbley, OL
- 2014 — Spencer Curtis, WR
- 2013 — Austin Kafentzis, QB
- 2013 — Mason Krueger, WR
- 2013 — Cooper Clark, DB
- 2012 — Clay Moss, RB
- 2012 — Zach Larsen, OL
- 2012 — Tyshon Mosley, OL
- 2012 — Tyler Swan, LB
- 2012 — Cooper Clark, DB
- 2011 — Austin Kafentzis, QB
- 2011 — B.J. Cavendar, OL
- 2011 — Hayden Babka, LB
- 2010 — McCoy Hill, QB
- 2010 — Taylor Loomis, WR