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October 2015

Softball Coach Hired

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Riley White cropOctober 30, 2015—Lehi, Utah

Riley White has been hired as the Softball Coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.

Coach White is a recent graduate of Utah Valley University, where he attended on an athletic scholarship and was a four year starter on the baseball team. While at UVU, he was the team captain for the 2014 season, was named to the All Great West Conference and Academic teams, and was the first UVU player to hit for the cycle after the transition to Division 1.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Coach White has been playing fastpitch softball for the past ten years. He was a member of Team USA’s Junior Olympic men’s national fastpitch softball team, and was able to compete in the 2005 World Games in Prince Edward Island, Canada. He also competes annually in NAFA and ISC mens fastpitch events, in addition to his experience as a volunteer coach for the Lehi baseball team.

Coach White feels that education should always come first, and he wants to build the Skyridge softball program around the principles of “hustle, attitude, and integrity.” He says, “The opportunity to start the Skyridge softball program is an absolute honor. I look forward to working with a great group of athletes and I am eager to work to build a successful program.” He also says that his vision is to create a program that will build confidence in players as a team and as individuals.

Skyridge Principal Joel Perkins says, “Riley is a dynamic young coach who is dedicated to helping the student athletes on his softball team to be successful both on and off the field. He is very involved in the softball community, and has a passion for not only the sport, but also for teaching life lessons. He is committed to providing a well rounded experience for his athletes.”

Softball has always been an integral part of Coach White’s life. His father played fastpitch softball for over 20 years, his mother was the first softball coach at Lehi High, and his wife is the head softball coach at Orem High. His sisters Carley and Sydney both played for LHS and will be playing together at Weber State next year.

Skyridge Athletic Director Mark Clinton is impressed by Coach White’s drive for student success. He says, “Riley demonstrates to me a unique burning desire to redefine success for all of the right reasons. We look forward to having him as part of our Skyridge athletic program that strives to win consistently with class.”

Coach White has a bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism. He currently works as a sales associate for a business consulting company and is the head coach for an 18U elite club softball team. He and his wife Whitney reside in Lehi.

Baseball Coach Hired

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October 23, 2015–Lehi, Utahryan roberts 3, crop

Ryan Roberts has been named as the baseball coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.

Coach Roberts is a local entrepreneur and small business owner. He has 14 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. During his four years at UVSC (now UVU) and his ten years at BYU, he worked as the recruiting coordinator and hitting and infield coach. He was a multi-sport student athlete at Mountain View High School, and he played baseball at UVSC, BYU, and for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Coach Roberts feels his primary responsibility as a coach is to foster the personal development of each player and to build a program that young players will strive to be part of as they grow up in the community. He expects his student athletes to be passionate about the Falcon baseball program and Skyridge High School. Skyridge Athletic Director Mark Clinton says, “Ryan is the kind of coach that will have his players respect and enjoy one another and be willing to sacrifice for the good of each other and for the benefit of our school.”

Skyridge Principal Joel Perkins is excited to have Coach Roberts as part of the coaching team. He says, “Ryan is extremely well respected in the baseball community, and we are delighted that he will be joining the Skyridge team. He is committed to creating a program that will mold young men to individual and team excellence. Coach Roberts believes that student athletes are students first, and wants to help broaden their education by providing a quality baseball experience.”

Speaking about his new position, Roberts says, “I am very excited about Skyridge High School and the future athletic programs, including the baseball program. Not only are Mr. Perkins and Mr. Clinton assembling a great group of educators and coaches, but the future students are exceptional people. Skyridge will have tremendous student athletes. I’m excited for the chance to be associated with them, and for the opportunity to start a new program. This job will be a great opportunity, and we need our entire community to be involved in the process of making this school the best it can be.”

Coach Roberts has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and a master’s degree in Health, Recreation, and Physical Education. During his tenure at BYU, he served as an exercise science instructor. He and his wife Angela live in Lehi with their four children.

Soccer Coach Hired

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October 23, 2015–Lehi, UtahJerry

Jerry Preisendorf has been hired as the men’s and women’s soccer coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.

Coach Preisendorf has a USSF “D” Coaching License and has coached soccer for the last 15 years at the club and high school levels. He has been the head coach of the Lehi High School boys’ team since 2010 and started coaching the girls’ soccer program in 2015.

Under Coach Preisendorf, the boys’ program at Lehi High School has collected two state titles, the first in 2010 (4A), and the second in 2013 (5A). The team advanced to the semifinal game last season. During his tenure, the Pioneers have been Region champions four times, and have qualified for the state playoffs every year. The overall record for the boys’ team is at Lehi High is 82-24-7.

During Preisendorf’s first year as the girls’ head coach at Lehi High School, the team finished the season as the 4th seed in Region 4 and earned a berth in the state playoffs. Their first round victory over a #1 seed allowed them to make it to the quarterfinals, where they lost to an eventual finalist in the 5A division.

Skyridge principal Joel Perkins says, “Jerry is an outstanding individual. He has cultivated a tradition of excellence at Lehi High School, and we are confident that he will create outstanding men’s and women’s soccer programs. He cares deeply for his student athletes, and he is known for his ability to hone their individual potential to achieve success as a cohesive team. His teams excel, and parents and students love him.”

Skyridge Athletic Director Mark Clinton says, “Jerry has the ability to understand and demonstrate the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship and will instill in Skyridge athletes a burning desire to win while playing within the rules.”

On leaving his current position, Preisendorf says, “I have a lot of memories and many good friends at Lehi High School. All of my sons graduated from Lehi, and I have a great relationship with the administration there. I look forward to creating a great program and to the opportunities that come with starting a program at a new school.”

Coach Preisendorf says the best thing in his life is being married to his wife of over 30 years, Michele. The Preisendorfs have four boys and one grandchild, and they have lived in Lehi for the past 23 years. He will continue to coach at Lehi High through the end of the school year.

Construction Photos, August 11-October 15

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Football Coach Hired

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Jon Lehman-2 cropOctober 10, 2015—Lehi, Utah

Jon Lehman has been selected as the Head Football Coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah. The school will open in August 2016.

Coach Lehman has spent the last six seasons as a Defensive Coordinator and defensive back coach at American Fork High School. He was an integral part of a coaching staff that took the Cavemen to the 5A State Championship game last year, and he also coached the top ranked scoring defense in Region 4 for the past two seasons. Prior to moving to Utah, he spent two years as a coach at Greenville College (Illinois) and a year at Sunny Hills High School (Fullerton, CA). Lehman played college football at Trinity University in Chicago, where he was a four year starter, three-time captain, and is the all-time career sack leader.

Coach Lehman feels it is important to train young men to be leaders and competitors, to have outstanding character, and to pursue excellence in everything they do. He serves as a national coordinator for the NFL Play 60 character camps, working with youth around the country in conjunction with NFL franchises. He helped design the curriculum for the camps, which teach basic football skills, character traits, and the value of physical fitness. Skyridge Athletic Director Mark Clinton says, “Coach Lehman uses athletics as a vehicle to build leaders. He believes that success is measured by a culture focused on achieving team objectives.”

In addition to being a widely respected teacher of US History and Government classes, Lehman has received the “Most Motivational Coaching Award” three times at AFHS, an accolade voted on by the football players. Speaking about this new position, Lehman says, “I am grateful for the opportunity I had to coach some of the most outstanding young men I have ever known over the past six years at American Fork High, as well as for the relationships I have with some truly great teachers and coaches. I look forward to the opportunity to build a new program at Skyridge High School, one that the community of Lehi will be proud of.”

Skyridge Principal Joel Perkins says, “Jon Lehman is an excellent history teacher and successful football coach. We love his passion for improving young people’s lives. We have great confidence that Coach Lehman will build an outstanding program at Skyridge. We are excited to welcome him to our team.”

Coach Lehman has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (history), and a master’s degree in education (teacher leadership). He and his wife Christy have a ten month old daughter and live in Lehi. Coach Lehman will continue to teach and coach at American Fork High School for the remainder of the school year.

Men’s Basketball Coach Hired

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October 9, 2015—Lehi, UtahCoach Gardner

Jeff Gardner has been hired as the Men’s Head Basketball Coach for Skyridge High School, currently under construction in Lehi, Utah.  The school will open in August 2016.

For the past four years, Coach Gardner has been the Head Basketball Coach at Brighton High School, where he guided the Bengals to the 5A State Tournament each year. His team advanced to the semi-finals three times, and competed for the state championship twice.

After his first season at Brighton, Coach Gardner was named by the Utah High School Basketball Coaches Association as the Wilbur Braithwaite 5A Coach of the Year. He spent five years as the head basketball coach at Mountain View High School, where he took his team to the state tournament four times. As a player, Gardner was All-State at Mountain View High School, and led his team to back-to-back state championships. He received All-Conference and Academic All-Conference awards at Snow College and Idaho State University.

In addition to being an amazing coach, Gardner is an outstanding math instructor, recognized for his ability to support all students in their educational endeavors. Principal Joel Perkins says, “We are extremely excited to have Jeff join our team at Skyridge High School. We know that he brings a tremendous amount of experience and most importantly, the ability to help young people excel and become well-rounded individuals. Coach Gardner is exactly the type of educator who exemplifies the culture we hope to create as we open our school.”

Of his new position, Gardner says, “I have been so fortunate to work with great student-athletes, coaches, and administrators at Brighton High School. While it is very difficult to leave a great situation at Brighton, the opportunity to start a new program in the community in which I live was too much to turn down. I am grateful to Mr. Perkins and (athletic director) Mark Clinton for their confidence in me, and I look forward to great things ahead.”

Coach Gardner has a bachelor’s degree in business administration (finance) and a master’s degree in education. He and his wife Lindsay have four children and reside in Lehi. Coach Gardner will continue to teach and coach at Brighton High for the remainder of the school year.