Graham-Kapowsin taps offensive coordinator Jeff Logan as next football coach
There’s only been one head football coach in Graham-Kapowsin High School’s history. Eric Kurle has been roaming the sideline since the school opened in 2005. He led the Eagles to the playoffs every single season, including winning his first state championship last fall, when Graham-Kapowsin posted an undefeated record and beat Lake Stevens in the 4A championship game, 44-7.
Those are some big shoes to fill, no doubt. Jeff Logan, who has served as the team’s offensive coordinator the past three seasons, is up to the task of taking over for Kurle, who announced he’s stepping down, as he and his wife are planning a move to Lake Chelan.
“It was great for me to learn from (Kurle), he was accepting and taking me under his wing,” Logan said. “For me to see, ‘What does it look like every Friday night?’ It’s been really beneficial. … (Kurle) has been successful everywhere he’s been. It shows a lot about his development. He’s had a lot of guys go on to do different things.
“It speaks highly to his development of players and staff, to where people want to come back. Having graduated from here, I have a sense of home, family. It’s an exciting time. I feel ready for the opportunity, ready to work.”
Logan, 31, actually played for Kurle as part of Graham-Kapowsin’s 2009 graduating class, the school’s third. He played quarterback for the Eagles, before going on to a successful college career at Montana Western, an NAIA school. Kurle said Logan is a natural born leader, even going back to his high school days.
“He was a really smart football player, real tough,” Kurle said. “He was a team player. We had a great line, some big running backs, so we didn’t throw a lot. Actually, he got to throw more in college.”
Kurle handed play-calling duties to Logan a few years ago, a show of respect and trust in his up-and-coming coordinator.
“He was still a big part of what we did every week with game planning, on-field decisions,” Logan said. “Over the years, it’s grown toward him stepping away. That’s kind of been his baby, the offense. I think the thing that’s helped him is that it’s been a team effort.”
That team includes two of Logan’s family members. Jeff’s dad, Scott, is the team’s defensive line coach and Jeff’s brother, Greg, is the team’s receivers coach. That coaching culture was imparted to Jeff early on and gave him a maturity on the field that most high school players don’t have.
“He’s always grown up in a coaching family, and was always a leader for baseball, basketball, football,” Kurle said.
Logan wants to keep that collaborative culture humming at G-K. On the offensive end, that includes his brother and Cameron Brophy, who will take over as the offensive coordinator. Jeff Logan will continue calling plays.
“Both (Greg and Cameron) do a good job of in-game adjustments,” he said. “What we’ve done the past few years is what I anticipate going forward. My brother has a lot of good input. … I rely heavily on those guys. Nothing is going to change, I tell them, ‘I want you guys to feel your jobs are just as important as mine.’”
Kurle hoped the school district would hire Logan for the job. He thinks he’ll be a good steward for the program going forward, emphasizing involvement with the youth football program all the way through the high school.
“I just feel comfortable,” Kurle said. It’s something we’ve built and he’s been a big part of it. I felt like he’s a great hire for our school and I was really fighting for that. Our school district, everyone agreed. He works right here in the building. It’s going to be an easy transition for these kids. It’s great for our kids and keeping our community together.”
The expectation remains the same: winning league titles and making a run at state.
“We’re going to do the same stuff,” Logan said. “Run the ball with a gap scheme, get physical and play downhill. We’re going to fly around and have a lot of fun. … We have a lot of young coaches. They get excited, too. It’s an opportunity for us to really relate to (the players). Fans will see the excitement, commitment and enjoyment in the program.”
This story was originally published April 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
