Monte Gutowski. (Courtesy of Larry Ferguson/Pikes Peak Bulletin)
MANITOU SPRINGS — Manitou Springs High School will be looking for its fourth football coach in seven years. Monte Gutowski, who has headed the program for the last two seasons, will not return in 2016.
In his two years with the Mustangs, Gutowski went 5-14. They did finish in second place of the Class 2A Tri-Peaks League this year at 3-6, which put them into the playoffs.
They lost to eventual state champion Bayfield 40-0 in the first round.
“The school simply felt that a change in direction was needed in the high school football program,” athletic director John McGee said. “We measure our program’s success in three key areas: relationships, philosophy, and effectiveness of strategy.
“It is our desire to achieve excellence in all three areas. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Coach Gutowski over the previous two seasons; however, we felt that to achieve our goals as a school, different leadership with the football program was needed at this time.”
The Mustangs are not far removed from a high level of success. The team reached the 2A semifinals in 2013.
McGee said that the process to find a new coach is underway and that it remains a top priority of the school to fill the position quickly.