Bigfork hires football coach

Veteran college and prep coach Bruce Corbett will be Bigfork High School's new head football coach, athletic director Shannon Smith announced Thursday.

Corbett has coached at virtually every level of scholastic football in California, including NCAA Division I, community college and high school. He takes over for Aaron Stiegeler, who resigned following last fall's winless campaign.

Corbett's most recent stint lasted from 1996-99 when he was head coach at California's Gustine High School. His other prep posts were in Hollister and Merced, Calif.

Corbett coached at Division I Long Beach State when the 49ers were members of the Big West Conference, which included Fresno State and San Jose State. He was an assistant there under legendary NFL coach George Allen in 1990.

Corbett also coached at three California community colleges, including Butler County and El Camino. He has spent the last several years in administration, serving as an athletic director, dean of students and assistant principal.

Smith said he and Corbett had more than 20 phone conversations over the last month and a half.

"He's got a good resume, but what stood out was his interview," Smith said. "He just has a wealth of knowledge. It was like a coaching clinic for me."

Smith knew Corbett was the Vikings' man once the coach visited Bigfork and met with a few football players during track practice. Smith said the athletes instantly liked and respected Corbett.

"And the man really wants to be here at Bigfork, and he really wants to stick around," Smith said. "Stability in a high school program is a very important factor."

With 367 students, Bigfork's football teams have struggled in recent years, competing against Class A schools, which often boast enrollments about twice that size. The Vikings finished last season with less than two dozen healthy players.

According to Smith, none of those numbers scared Corbett away.

"He did his homework," Smith said. "He knows exactly what he's getting into from a numbers issue, from a record issue, from an athletes issue, to a facilities issue."

Corbett could not be reached Thursday for comment.