Prep notebook: Huard to coach at Interlake

His playing days over, Luke Huard went looking for a challenge.

The search ended this week at Bellevue's Interlake High School, where Huard — the youngest of the fabled Huard quarterbacks from Puyallup — has been named football coach of a program in desperate need of rejuvenation.

He replaces Hoover Hopkins, who resigned after four seasons last December, and inherits a program that hasn't had a winning season since 1994 and hasn't made the state playoffs since 1985.

The Saints finished 3-6 last year and are 24-66 over the past 10 seasons.

"No. 1, I'm looking for a challenge," said Huard, 23. "Football is a challenging game and I think any competitor loves a challenge. One thing about the Interlake program — there is only one way we can go and that's up."

Huard passed for 6,305 yards and 75 touchdowns in a stellar career at Puyallup High, where he followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, Damon and Brock.

Unlike his brothers, who both signed with Washington, Luke committed to North Carolina. But he played in just seven games for the Tar Heels during four years plagued by injuries, coaching changes and concerns about his health. He transferred to Division II Sam Houston State, but was deemed ineligible by the NCAA when too few of his UNC credits transferred.

Disappointed, Huard returned home and got his first real taste of coaching, spending last season as an offensive assistant at Tacoma's Washington High School, where he worked with quarterbacks and receivers.

"He did a nice job for us," said Coach Gary Jeffers. "There are some coaches that are grinders, and some who aren't. Luke is a grinder. He'll put in 120 hours a week in preparation."

Huard's father, Mike Huard, coached high-school football for 26 years. He coached 17 years at Puyallup before retiring after the 1997 season with a career record of 176-85. He is 26th on the state's all-time victories list.

Luke said his father will not be an assistant at Interlake, but frequently will be called upon for input.

"He'll probably give me some advice here and there," Luke said. "I certainly am going to ask him."

Huard is a substitute teacher in the Puyallup School District and will not work in the building at Interlake.

He said his first priority will be to hire a coaching staff, which he hopes to have in place by next month.

"We're going to embrace the positives that have happened at Interlake," Huard said. "It's a new era and a new day and we're going to prepare like champions."

Note

• Auburn Riverside High School will host a powerlifting invitational for high-school athletes on Saturday. The 10-school event features boys and girls competition in nine weight classes. The event begins at 10 a.m. Powerlifting is considered a high-school club sport in Washington state.

Volunteers are needed and can call Auburn Riverside Coach Aaron Wilson at (253) 334-1900. Powerlifters can still register to compete. The entry fee is $15.

Correspondent Matt Massey contributed to this report.