While Spring sports used the field on Saturday, April 6, Scorpions football also began its first practice.

New Scorpions coach Bob Young officially met the players and began drills.

“We had 20 kids, which was a pleasant surprise when a baseball game and track meet are happening,” Young said. “We started out in the weight room before hitting the gym.”

After meeting Young, the players got right to work for next season.

“The players got acclimated to coaches and learned and about expectations and our tempo next season,” he said. “Three of my assistants were at the practice and each of them came away pleased at their effort.”

On Wednesday, March 27, the Sedona Red Rock High School introduced Young to the parents.

“It went well, the parents in Sedona are very receptive and positive about the situation,” Young said. “ They want to succeed and that is the one thing I also keep hearing from administration.”

Young hopes to learn more about the players before summer ball begins.

“We are just trying to evaluate what we have at this point,” Young said. “We are going to instill some passing stuff before we hit the tournaments in June.”

Spring practice goes until Sedona’s last day of school on Thursday, May 23.

“We are putting a heavy emphasis our passing game because we do not really have spring ball,” Young said.

Summer practice begins on Wednesday, May 29, and lasts until the Scorpions receive their helmets on Tuesday, July 30.

“I know Coach Miller did a really good job of getting the players in the weight room,” Young said. “The kids have already been pumping iron, so we just have to build off that.”

Hitting has always been crucial to Young’s teams and 2019 is no different.

“My assistants told the players that we will be the hardest-hitting team on the field next year,” Young said. “While we have not gone through any X’s and O’s, we are going to get after it.”

The Scorpions will have their work cut out for them as Sedona quarterback Jake Brown recovers from Tommy-John surgery.

“We will have to find a quarterback but we have three kids currently working at that position,” Young said. “If we have receivers, we will throw and, if we have running backs, we will run, all of that is to be determined.”

For Young, the transition from defensive coordinator back to head coach has been an easy one.

“I had been a head coach for 25 season and an assistant for only one, plus my assistants are here,” Young said. “I gave them a practice schedule and we know exactly what to do, so it should be a smooth transition
for us.”

Young was last a head coach in 2017, as he led the Mingus Marauders to a 5-6 record.

Not once did Young envision he would coach the Scorpions while at Mingus Union High School.

“I thought I would coach at Mingus until I retired, but sometimes life takes weird destinations,” Young said.

Young resigned from the Marauders on March 12, 2018 and accepted a defensive coordinator position at Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep.

“Once I got down to Scottsdale, I realized we were not going to permanently live down here,” Young said. “At some point, I was going to try and come back to Northern Arizona and it just so happened that Sedona had the opportunity.”

Sedona’s football season begins on Friday, August 23, when the Scorpions scrimmage Kingman Academy at home.

“We will find out in the upcoming Saturdays how much the kids want to succeed,” Young said. “The kids showing up and making that commitment will be key to our success.”

The Scorpions regular season begins on Friday, August 30, when they host Kingman. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.