Jake Heaps cleared to coach Legend football in Class 5A playoffs
The Colorado High School Activities Association removed the head coach from restriction on Oct. 21, allowing him to be present for the team's postseason opener.
By Scott Marshall ·
Jake Heaps, the head football coach at Legend Academy in Parker, Colorado, is eligible to coach his team in the Class 5A postseason. The Colorado High School Activities Association board of directors removed Heaps from restriction during a meeting on Oct. 21. This decision followed a formal request submitted by the school's administration.
Heaps was suspended for the first two games of the 2026 season and placed on restriction due to two program rule violations over the past year. Under CHSAA Bylaw 2420, coaches under restriction cannot be present on the field during playoff competition. With the restriction lifted, Heaps can now coach the Titans in their playoff opener.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the CHSAA described the removal as standard procedure. The association noted that Heaps met the requirements outlined in its bylaws to be removed from the list. To qualify for removal, the coach and the school had to demonstrate administrative actions taken to prevent a re-occurrence of the violation, according to CHSAA Bylaw 2420.13.
Heaps was unavailable for an interview on Thursday but provided a written statement to The Denver Post. He wrote that the Titans are excited for the postseason and expressed gratitude to the CHSAA for its guidance throughout the reinstatement process. He stated that his focus is now on team preparation and finishing the season, noting that the program will be stronger for having gone through the process.
The Legend football program remains on probation stemming from an impermissible contact violation last year by a freshman coach. Heaps is also on probation under CHSAA rules as a result of the recent restriction removal. The latest violation involved holding padded practices during the CHSAA Heat Acclimatization Period, a rule the team broke this season.
The Titans finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and earned the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. They have a bye in the first round this week. In the second round next week, they will host the winner of the match between Chatfield and Denver East at EchoPark Stadium. If Legend wins that game, they are likely to face No. 3 Mountain Vista in the quarterfinals.
Heaps is in his second season at Legend. He led the team to the Class 5A quarterfinals last fall, where they lost 31-30 to Valor Christian. The Titans have a strong roster this year, including junior quarterback Kellen Mauck, senior running back Jayden Scaife, senior wideout Kellen Marchand, and senior linebacker Carter Berard.
The team's losses this season include a 28-24 defeat to No. 6 Grandview in the season opener on Aug. 28, a 34-28 overtime loss to No. 1 Cherry Creek on Sept. 10, and a 42-0 loss to No. 2 Valor Christian on Oct. 2. Heaps, a former college and pro quarterback who served as Russell Wilson's personal coach, works with a staff that includes Broncos left tackle Garett Boles, who serves as the program's director of player development.
