UPDATE: STORY EDITED FOR GRAMMAR CORRECTIONS 2/20/26

Before the second half could start, Rocky Mountain High School turned its attention from the game to honor retiring football coach Scott Criner, whose time on the sideline shaped not only a winning program but generations of student-athletes who wore the Grizzlies’ colors.

In four seasons, he went 38–9, leading Rocky Mountain to its first-ever state title in 2015. The Grizzlies have since won two more state titles, in 2018 and 2020.

How did it feel to win the 2015 state championship?
“Absolutely amazing. It was the first one in school history. The work that our kids put in was incredible. They were asked to go to another level, and they did it. That extra work meant 5 a.m. mornings during the school year, then coming in all summer at 7 a.m. when everyone else was sleeping in. That was tough. Then running 40 40s on the minute and being able to turn all that into something productive was special. After making the semifinals the previous two years, the team finally turned that corner. It was amazing. Great kids. Fantastic kids.”

That is what made it special. It was not just the win, but knowing how much work was put into it. All the early mornings, the extra work, and the moments when quitting was an option but never happened were everything Rocky needed to win the state championship. Criner also won two other championships as the offensive coordinator for Rocky in 2018 and 2020.

Coach Criner was passionate about everything. The goal was not just to make better football players, but better people as well. It will be difficult for Coach Criner to stay away from football, but family is also a major priority. Time spent with loved ones and enjoying life beyond football now takes center stage.