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Aspen High School’s rising football program will have to take steps under new leadership.
Head coach Eric McCready, after three seasons at the helm, tendered his resignation in December. He confirmed his resignation to the Aspen Daily News via text but declined further interview.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with my family,” McCready said via text.
McCready, who was an assistant coach before taking over for Travis Benson ahead of the 2022 fall season, often spoke of creating a new culture for the program — one of commitment and work ethic.
Those tenets evidently resonated, as the team’s win-loss record improved each year — culminating with the Skiers’ first winning record since 2018 in the last season — and an increase in player turnout that McCready said was unmatched in his time with the team, dating back to his days as an assistant coach.
This season, Aspen finished ranked No. 19 in the state’s 2A classification with a 5-4 record, likely just one win out from clinching a berth into the state playoffs. The Skiers finished third in the 2A West league with a 3-2 record.
His resignation was effective on Dec. 31, a letter he sent to Aspen School District Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry and team parents stated.
In the letter, he said he was resigning “to focus on my family and personal health.”
“It has been an honor to serve the students and families of Aspen High School and this community,” McCready said in the letter, obtained by the Aspen Daily News. “I am proud of the accomplishments that have been made by our players, coaches and football community over the past 3 seasons. From the completion of the Curt Ufkes Strength and Conditioning Center to our unprecedented turnout of 65 players from 30 when we started, while sending multiple players on to participate at the collegiate level. We have created a culture of confident young men that the Aspen community is extremely proud of!”
McCready was the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator for the Skiers for three years prior to taking the head coach position. He also coached at Fairview High School in Boulder and the University of Colorado, where he played collegiately.
Aspen High School Athletic Director John Castrese said that he was surprised by the news and that McCready would have been welcomed back for his fourth season as head coach if he wanted it.
“I really enjoyed having him around,” Castrese said. “He contributed a lot to the program and to the growth of the program and support.
“I got the letter, it was a surprise to all of us that he had resigned, and I respect his wishes.”
Castrese noted that the position of head football coach is “365 days a year,” and acknowledged that coaching in Aspen is a taxing and difficult position — both with the hours and the cost of living in the area.
Applications began to be accepted for the position on Aspen School District’s hiring website on Tuesday. The contract period, according to the listing, is Aug. 11 through Nov. 29.
The base step for a head coach at ASD is $7,385 a year — 14% of step zero for a district teacher with a bachelor’s degree — for a coach with no years of experience. There are bonuses for a team qualifying for league/regional or state appearances.
On the job listing, the position summary is described as “responsible for planning, directing and leading an education based athletic program that seeks to develop athletes of empathy and integrity.”
Some of the required qualifications include a minimum two years of coaching at the high school level and college playing experience. Preferred qualifications include college coaching experience.
Castrese noted that he hopes to fill the position as soon as possible. Part of McCready’s legacy will be instilling more purpose in offseason work, and as Castrese put it, “the boys are waiting.”
“They’re working with assistant coaches right now on their weight programming and just to keep maintaining,” Castrese said. “So as soon as we get someone else in there, they’ll run the ship.”