Highland has hired Zach Sandstrom as its football coach, athletic director Steve Latuda said on Monday.
Sandstrom has been an assistant with the Huskies for two seasons, and is a weight and physical education teacher at the school. He replaces Paul Downing, who turned the program around in his two seasons at the helm.
Downing’s teams went 10-9 in two years. The program had won just four games in its previous five seasons.
Sandstrom was picked among a “a very strong pool of candidates,” Latuda said.
“He does a great job with the kids and has done wonders in the weight room,” Latuda said. “He is young and energetic and I know he will throw himself into this job.
“What stood out with Zach is his work ethic, his being a part of the staff that helped turn the program around, as well as his relationship with the kids.”
Sandstrom played football at Chadron State, graduating in 2014. He was a team captain as a senior.
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