Aragon resigns as Murray football coach

Dan Aragon, who had coached the Murray High football team for four and a half seasons, abruptly resigned from his position Sept. 21 amid player and parent discontent with the program.

According to media reports, Aragon’s wife was confronted in a supermarket by parents of team players issuing complaints about him and the program. That proved to be the final straw, as Aragon submitted his resignation the next day. The Spartans were 8-34 during his tenure, and had posted their best season under him last year (3-6). Aragon, who continues to teach at Murray, took over a program in 2007 that had posted one winning season in the last 15 years.

Keeko Georgelas, Aragon’s predecessor at Murray, was named interim coach and guided the team against Westlake on Sept. 30. The Spartans’ assistant coaches directed the team in its first game without Aragon on Sept. 23 against Olympus.

The Spartan football program has faced many challenges in recent years. Cottonwood and Skyline compete for local talent with Murray, which is often undersized. Unsatisfied with the direction the program was heading, several talented players that live in Murray’s boundaries have gone elsewhere to play.

Aragon has also been an assistant coach on Murray’s girls basketball and softball teams. The Spartan football team was 1-6 overall and 0-3 in region heading into their Oct. 7 game at Herriman. Murray defeated Cyprus in its season opener, but had lost its next six games in succession.

Since the 2004 season, when Murray finished 6-4 overall and lost to Lone Peak in the first round of the 4A playoffs, the football program has been in serious decline. The Spartans have gone 17-49 since 2004 – their last winning season – and have been 8-36 over the last five seasons. Murray has not competed in the postseason since 2006, when it lost to Box Elder in the 4A first round 40-9.

Aragon could not be reached for comment as of our press deadline.