How Darius Matthews Changed the Narrative at Copper Hills

This article recaps a segment from The Rush's Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 episode. Watch the full show.

Copper Hills is 6-2 and on track for its first winning season in 31 years, and second-year coach Darius Matthews joined The Rush to talk about how it happened.

Start with last week's 14-13 overtime win over Bingham. Matthews said it was only the second time Copper Hills has ever beaten the Miners, the first coming in 2003. After Bingham scored and went for two, a penalty on the Grizzlies moved the ball closer. Matthews called his players into a huddle and told them it was their last chance. One of his captains asked him to bring in the goal-line package. "Coach, we got it," the player told him. Matthews trusted him, Bingham ran split zone to the left, and the strong-side defensive end knifed through to make the stop.

Matthews says there's no secret to the turnaround. "It's really just the kids buying into what I was selling," he said. In exit interviews after last season, he heard how tired players were of losing. "Coach, I just want to win," they told him.

His biggest coaching influence is NFL coach Mike Tomlin, for the way he reaches his players. He also credited his college coaches and his high school coach for teaching him to be tough but human.

Matthews said a loss to Westlake, when the Grizzlies shot themselves in the foot, taught them how good they can be when they execute. Beyond stars like Louie Riggs, quarterback Ethan Hill and receiver Logan Beck, he praised left tackle TJ Chadwick, hybrid safety Logan Morrell and free safety Junior Ehounou, who has three interceptions. "He really should have six," Matthews joked.

Copper Hills faces Herriman this week.