Colony names football coach

PALMER — It may not have been a direct route, but the path Rhett Magner has traveled brought the former Colony High star back home.

Late last week, Magner was named the head coach of the Colony High School football program. Magner, a 2005 graduate of Colony High, succeeds former Knights mentor Brian McIntosh, who resigned earlier this year after four seasons at the helm.

Magner, a three-time first-team all-state selection who was signed out of high school by Division I Bowling Green State University, is part of a family stocked full of coaches. But despite his accolades as a player and his coaching pedigree, Magner’s past plans didn’t include overseeing a program.

“Honestly when I graduated from college (coaching) wasn’t on my radar,” Magner said Monday afternoon.

But after graduating with a degree in human performance management from Weber State University in Utah and returning to the Valley in 2010, Magner quickly found himself working with high school athletes. Colony boys basketball coach Tom Berg was the first to reel Magner in, luring the CHS grad to help with the team’s strength and conditioning program.

“When I got back, I kind of got involved coaching a little bit. It just took over, and I couldn’t stop it,” said Magner, who also served as an assistant coach on McIntosh’s Colony football staff. “It’s something I wasn’t planning on doing. But once I got a taste, I couldn’t stop. I wanted to do as much as I can.”

Manger couldn’t deny it being part of his DNA.

Magner is not only a former multi-sport athlete at Colony High, but the name Magner is synonymous with Knights football. Magner’s older brother Cole was named the 2000 Alaska Player of the Year in football. His father Randy is a former longtime head coach at Colony, and is considered the architect who created the blueprint for Colony football.

“It’s in my blood,” Magner said. “Everybody in my family is doing it.”

Of the six Magner children, Rhett Magner said just about everyone in his family has coached at some level.

“It’s something I’ve grown up with,” Magner said.

And he grew up on the football field.

Literally.

Magner took his first steps on a football field. When Magner was about 2 years old he walked as a toddler for the first time on the turf of Anchorage Football Stadium while his dad, then an assistant at Palmer High, was coaching in a playoff game.

“It’s kind of cliche, kind of silly, but since the time I could walk I’ve been involved in football,” Magner said. “I’m lucky enough to come back where I grew up.”

Magner said he feels fortunate for the opportunity, and the chance to continue the family tradition of coaching.

“It’s an honor to be in this position, have the administration, parents, kids trust me enough to be their head coach,” Magner said.

Magner, 28, takes the helm as the youngest head coach in Alaska’s large-schools football class. But Magner’s not worried about that.

“I think, look past the age, realize it’s just a number,” Magner said. “I do have the knowledge and an incredible amount of resources, if I’m ever going to need it. And of course I’m going to need it. It’s kind of foolish to think anybody has all of the knowledge.”

Colony High assistant principal Brendon McMahon agrees age is not an issue. McMahon praised Magner’s maturity and enthusiasm.

“It’s not like you have to have been doing it for 30 years,” McMahon said.

McMahon said attributes and attitude lifted Magner to the top of what McMahon described as a “very strong” group of finalists for the position.

“He’s very down to earth, very humble,” McMahon said of Magner. “For 28, he’s definitely got his head screwed on straight.”

Magner said he’s excited for the future of Colony football.

“I’m extremely lucky to be placed in the situation I’m in, the talent (we) have right now, and the years to come,” Magner said. “It’s a really good group. I’m really pumped about it.”

Magner said he’s beginning the process of putting together a coaching staff.

“I’m mulling it over now. It’s really important to have people around who have been involved, but it’s important for new guys to come in, bring new faces, new perspectives,” Magner said.

As a player, Magner stood out on offense, defense and special teams. He was named first-team all-state as a punt returner as a sophomore. He garnered first-team all-state accolades at defensive back as a junior, and defensive back and return specialist as senior. Magner was also named first-team All-Railbelt at quarterback, defensive back and return specialist as a senior.

Magner also excelled on the basketball court. He hit a buzzer-beater that gave the Colony boys basketball team a 38-35 win over rival Wasilla in the 2005 Northern Lights Conference title game. He also helped Colony advance to the 2005 4A state title game.

Despite how much he appreciates basketball, Magner said football has always been his first love.

“To me, it’s the ultimate team sport. The amount of toughness, mentally and physically you have to have, there’s nothing else like it,” Magner said.