White steps down as coach
Haraldson to take over Eureka High football program
Eureka High football coach Jason White has stepped down from his position after seven seasons, the school’s athletic department announced in a press release Sunday Night.
“At this point, I’ve either been playing or coaching football for 35 years and I am tired,” White said. “As you get older, it takes a little more time every off-season to rejuvenate and get ready. I am the type of person where if I can’t put 100 percent into something, I won’t do it.”
Andrew Haraldson, who has been a part of the Loggers’ coaching staff since the 2012 season and most recently has served as defensive coordinator, has been named Eureka’s new head football coach.
White, after coaching stints with College of the Redwoods, Humboldt State and a 7-year run at St. Bernard’s Academy, took over as Eureka’s head coach prior to the start of the 2013 season. Through seven seasons the Loggers amassed a 49-31 overall record under White and won three Big 5 Conference championships (2013, 2017, 2018).
Eureka’s finest seasons under White came in 2017 and 2018, during which time the Loggers won 23 of 25 games and completed backto-back undefeated regular seasons. In 2018 Eureka advanced to the program’s first-ever NorCal region state bowl game, a Division 3-AA contest which saw a then 12-0 Eureka team face Menlo-Atherton at McKinleyville High. Eureka fell by a narrow 27-20 margin to the eventual state champs.
Prior to that game Eureka advanced to the North Coast Section Division 3 title round. After weeks of delays due to wildfires Eureka’s
section championship game against Cardinal Newman was decided by a coin-flip, undoubtedly one of the strangest (to say the least) moments of White’s time at Eureka.
As for his favorite moments during his seven seasons at Eureka, White said its all about the little things.
“When you see kids respond to what you’ve taught them and learn something they didn’t know how to do before, that’s what I will remember most,” White said. “Or when you see players go out and do great things in
the community — its those things that I remember.”
White has sent more than a dozen of his Loggers players on to play at the college level. Jake Hanson, an offensive lineman and 2015 graduate, just wrapped up an enormously successful career at the University of Oregon and figures to be an NFL draft pick in a few months.
Cruz Montana, Eureka’s starting quarterback during its 23-2 run between 2017 and 2018, finished his freshman season at Lewis and Clark College. Isaak Gutierrez, a 2019 graduate and another of White’s dominant offensive lineman, performed well during his freshman season at Butte College and
on Monday committed to play football at the University of New Mexico.
“(White) was a great coach,” Gutierrez said. “He just wanted you to be a better football player and better guy every day.”
White said he plans to remain at Eureka High for the immediate future and look at pursuing an administrative credential. When asked if he’s ever return to coaching, White said he “doesn’t know at this point,” and added that he feels taking at least a year off to recharge is the best decision for now.
The North Coast won’t be without a White coaching, however, as Jason’s younger brother Nick White
is set for his second season as Del Norte’s head coach. Chris White, another of Jason’s brothers, is an assistant coach at Del Norte as well. THE NEW HC >> Haraldson graduated from Eureka High in 2005 and played for College of the Redwoods for two seasons before continuing his career at Willamette University.
On taking over the head coaching job at his high school alma mater, Haraldson said “it means a lot.
“I grew up going to the games at Eureka High and then playing there…It’s a privilege to be here now as the head coach,” he said.
Haraldson said the the Loggers’ two main foundation pillars
going forward will be the same ones the program has leaned on for decades — hard work and treating people the right way.
Haraldson has been on the Loggers coaching staff for eight consecutive seasons. He spent the 2019 season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Prior to 2019 Haroldson served in several coaching roles including as the Loggers’ linebackers and defensive line coach.
The coach said he’s “passionate” about building up the young men in his program and teaching them the core values of life through the game of football.
“I believe in helping kids be successful,” he said.