Eagle Valley football coach named CHSAA Denver Broncos coach of the week

Having guided Eagle Valley to an 8-0 start this fall, Chris Lake was named the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week on Oct. 8.

The Devils are ranked third in the 3A Selection and Seeding Index after handing top-10 ranked Conifer and Steamboat Springs its first losses of the season earlier this month and shutting out Glenwood Springs in a homecoming game victory on Friday night. They are one of only two undefeated teams in the state and off to their first 8-0 start since at least the mid-90s.

The Broncos recognize each of the weekly award winners, given for both high school tackle and flag football, during a pre-game on-field recognition ceremony at home games. CHSAA profiled Lake in a Q&A as part of the award, asking questions about his coaching style, challenges in growing the program and what makes the 2025 squad unique.

Lake started as a linebackers coach in Salida under his former high school coach, Doug Cogan.

“I just love the game. I wasn’t asked to coach, I just knew I wanted to be a part of it. Now as a head coach, I try to make the game fun but also competitive,” Lake told CHSAA. “It’s a balance, you can’t always be their best friend and still get them to do what’s needed to be successful.”

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Lake led the Devils to three wins in 2023, his first-career head coaching position. Last year, Eagle Valley went 5-4.

“My first goal was to put a system and identity in place and get the kids to buy in. That buy-in has been the biggest change,” he told CHSAA. “We didn’t inherit a playoff team, so rebuilding was a three-year project. Seeing kids who came in as wide-eyed freshmen now leading as seniors, that’s the most rewarding part. The consistency and commitment have made us a much stronger, more competitive team.” 

Eagle Valley has relied on its senior two-way stars like Nathan Leeper, Malachi Barros, Xander Deherrera, James Bivins and Keaden Lake. Lake leads the team with 19 total touchdowns, Barros has five interceptions and four receiving touchdowns and Leeper is the team’s top rusher, middle linebacker and kicker.

“We’ve got a strong senior group that’s done a phenomenal job leading,” Chris Lake told CHSAA. “Our main goal this year was to be more balanced offensively. Last year, we were very pass-heavy because of injuries at running back. This year, we’ve established a much stronger run game, not just through our tailback, but using our fullback, slots, and quarterback.” 

Lake said competing with other sports for athletes in a ski town is one unique challenge he’s faced in fostering a top-tier football contender. Even so, every local youth team from third through seventh grade are undefeated and growing, he said. Eagle Valley has also seen the varsity and junior varsity team increase in size during the last three years. Lake told the Vail Daily that he had 35 kids his first year, 50 out last year and 70 this fall.

“The goal is to make Eagle Valley a perennial playoff contender,” Lake said. “A program that competes for a state championship every year.”