When Bayfield High School football head coach Glenn Wallace’s child entered the world, he had a decision to make.
Should he stay and help foster the growth of the program, particularly after overseeing the program’s rise from winless in his rookie season to 4-5 last fall? Or should he resign and focus on his child?
Beyond elated to have become a father, Wallace ultimately sided with family. He finished his Bayfield football head coaching tenure 5-22 overall and 2-11 in the 2A Intermountain League from 2022-2024.
“It’s something I’d started thinking about after the season, and I just don’t want to miss anything,” he said. “I took a big leave of absence during second semester because my son was born – I was only around for, really, about two months – and with my son, and with football coaching …. I didn’t want to do a half-assed job of doing both. I didn’t want to let the kids at Bayfield down, didn’t want to let my own son down, but I figured it’d be best to step aside and focus on raising my son and being there for my wife.”
After BHS Athletic Director Andy Duffy accepted Wallace’s resignation, the search for a replacement promptly began – and eventually ended with a selection from off the same sideline.
Former BHS assistant football coach Jason Wenzlau was asked by the players to apply for the opening. It showed him the players believed he was the man for the job and it made him want to take the job even more to bring Bayfield’s winning tradition back.
Wenzlau accepted the job; he was an assistant on last year’s team and has been following the program for the last 12 years. His wife, Brandi, is the school’s athletic trainer.
Having gained additional experience during the 2024-25 winter by aiding BHS boys basketball boss Damon White Thunder, Wenzlau took Duffy’s good news and, with Wallace’s approval, started formulating summertime plans to begin preparing his Wolverines for the 2025 gridiron grind.
“He’s been very supportive, and very congratulatory toward me for getting the job,” said Wenzlau. “I appreciated that a lot, especially from the outgoing coach; you don’t always see that; somebody you’re replacing being willing to help the person replacing them. He’s reached out to me a couple times, said ‘If I can help you in any way, if you have any questions about anything about how the program’s been fundraising or anything like that, feel free to reach out.’ So he’s been very helpful; I’m super excited for the opportunity … and the transition’s been fun and interesting.”
After spring sports ended, Wenzlau saw an uptick in participation, especially with the incoming freshmen. He wanted the kids to have balance with their jobs and social lives so Wenzlau made sure workouts were either later in the day or early in the morning.
With assistants Emmitt Dorsey (RB/LB), Jon Wilmer (OL/DL) and Brian Williams (WR/DB/defensive coordinator) all back on staff along with a couple volunteer coaches, Wenzlau emphasized success will come from a by-play, by-game approach.
The Wolverines will kick their season off at 7 p.m. on Sept. 5, at home versus Aztec. After coaching turmoil in 2024, the Tigers went an uncharacteristic 0-9 overall last year and 0-7 against a realigned/expanded District 1-4A.
Nonconference play for Bayfield continues Sept. 12 in Gallup, New Mexico, with the Bengals (NMAA Dist. 1-3A) hoping to improve upon back-to-back 1-9 campaigns. The Wolverines – which won 41-7 at AHS last season, and 67-0 at home over GHS – will then visit Ignacio (4-5, 3-2 1A South Central) on the 19th and wrap up nonconference work on the 26th against Centauri (8-2, 4-1 SCC).
“Obviously the goal is to be playing our last game in November, around Thanksgiving. That’s our ultimate goal,” said Wenzlau, a 2001 Steamboat Springs graduate who then played at Fort Lewis College in Durango before choosing to end his career in ’03 (he’d graduate in ’06) after recovering from needed back surgery.
2024 2A INTERMOUNTAIN STANDINGS (conference, overall): 1.Montezuma-Cortez (4-1, 7-3); 2. Alamosa (4-1, 6-4); 3. Gunnison (3-2, 3-6); 4. Pagosa Springs (2-3, 5-5); 5. Salida (1-4, 3-6); 6. BAYFIELD (1-4, 4-5).
