Holy Family in Broomfield lost one fabled coach and replaced him with another.
After 30 years, 12 as head coach, Mike Gabriel stepped down from leading Holy Family football.
The Tigers didn’t have to look far for a replacement – it’s Jim Bratten, the school’s athletic director, who has nearly 30 years on the job himself.
Gabriel, who two weeks ago led the Tigers to the Class 2A state championship, his second, retired at age 53. The Tigers also finished runner-up in 2004.
“It was a good run,” he said Wednesday. “Now, it’s time for something else.”
He’s an assistant principal and teaches physical education. The Tigers’ stadium is also named after him.
As for Bratten, who retired from Jefferson County four years ago, the Tigers are getting a coach with extensive experience at Arvada, Pomona and Standley Lake. Bratten’s Pomona teams were usually league and statewide threats, and his Panthers finished second in 1992 to Boulder in 5A.
He’s also a former quarterback at the University of Colorado.
“We wanted to keep the program going and we didn’t want to go outside and start fresh,” Bratten said.
Bratten, 56, said he will lead the Tigers, who will join a new league in 2006, for as long as it’s fun.
“I have a good feeling about our situation and our school,” he said.
Also, with Dan Turnbull fired recently at Denver’s Thomas Jefferson and Bill Pospisil having resigned at Jefferson County’s Chatfield, a third 5A position is open at the Centennial League’s Smoky Hill.
However, Dennis Frederick, who took over the Buffaloes on a one-year interim basis, could wind up as their permanent coach.
According to athletic director Don Nelson, the district is simply opening up the position to see who it can attract, and Frederick, he said, is expected to apply.
