The Changing Of The Guards

Through nine thrilling seasons that included eight bowl games, seven conference titles and one national championship in 2004, the face of Cougar Football has always been the face of Chuck Lyon.

Not so, anymore.

Lyon retired from head coaching duties in June and accepted a position as Athletic Director for College of the Canyons. Longtime assistant Garett Tujague, who joined Lyon in 1998 to reassemble the Cougar Football program after a 17-year hiatus and served as assistant head coach last season, has assumed the mantle as interim head coach for the 2007 season.

"Garett will do a fantastic job this year," said Lyon. "He was there with me from the beginning, and I know he'll carry the tradition of Cougar Pride forward."

Tujague brings more than 14 years of coaching experience to the Cougars, the past nine with College of the Canyons. Prior to joining Lyon, Tujague coached at Chabot College and at the University of Redlands. Tujague played at Chabot before moving on to spend two years at BYU, where he earned All-American honors as an offensive lineman.

Tujague also served as Academic Counselor for College of the Canyons, a job that brought him into direct contact with hundreds of student-athletes from 16 intercollegiate sports at the college, and one that allowed him to perform a duty he loved: helping student-athletes achieve their dreams.

And that emphasis on educational goals was successful again last season despite the team's final 5-5 record, as 26 players went on to commit to four-year universities - a school record – including transfers to major programs such as University of Oregon, Iowa State, the University of Minnesota and the University of Hawaii.

"It's incredible the amount of players who leave here to move on to pursue their goals at four-year universities," said Tujague. "And that includes a couple of our freshman who were offered scholarships. I'm proud to be a part of that success."

Now, with Tujague in control and more than 130 players in training camp, the Cougars look to bring that success back on the field and once again reclaim the Western State Conference crown.