NEW FACES ABOUND

The 4A Southern Idaho Conference is guaranteed to have a different feel this season, as four of the nine teams have new coaches.

Michael Schroeder, Emmett: Schroeder moved to Gem County about two months ago from Hemet, Calif. Among his career highlights are a 2004 state championship at Hamilton High in Anza, Calif. Schroeder’s overall coaching record is 98-55-1.

Lee Leslie, Kuna: Leslie’s name will look familiar to fans, as he has previously coached in the Treasure Valley. He arrived in Boise in 2006 to coach the now-defunct Boise Burn of the arenafootball2 league. He spent two seasons at Bishop Kelly from 2009-10, leading the Knights to a state title in 2010. He did not coach last season.

Aaron Rodney, Mountain Home: From 2009 to 2011, Rodney was the offensive coordinator at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla., but he jumped at the chance to coach at Mountain Home. He is a 1994 graduate and his parents still live in the city. “This is my hometown,” Rodney said.

Jon Choate, Nampa: Choate most recently served as the defensive coordinator at Meridian, and is the brother of former Boise State special teams coach Jeff Choate (now at Washington State). Prior to joining the Meridian staff in 2008, Choate was a defensive coordinator and baseball coach at Caldwell.

RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS

OFFENSE

POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL

QB (1st) Austin Schaffer Sr. Columbia

RB (1st) Mario Jenkins Sr. Columbia

RB (1st) Andrew Spangler Sr. Bishop Kelly

TE (1st) Walker Ray Sr. Skyview

WR (1st) Eric Cotton Sr. Columbia

WR (1st) Turner Simmons Jr. Bishop Kelly

OL (1st) Nick Edenfield Sr. Columbia

RB (2nd) Victor Dias Sr. Middleton

WR (2nd) Lane Robbins Sr. Skyview

OL (2nd) Hunter Montgomery Sr. Skyview

K (2nd) Tylan Tullock Sr. Middleton

OL (HM) Luke Hildebrandt Sr. Middleton

OL (HM) Neal Murphy Sr. Bishop Kelly

DEFENSE

POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL

DB (1st) Skyler Ellsworth Sr. Middleton

DB (1st) Cory Brady Sr. Bishop Kelly

DL (2nd) Nick Edenfield Sr. Columbia

DL (2nd) Hunter Larson Sr. Emmett

LB (2nd) Joshua Poole Sr. Bishop Kelly

LB (2nd) Kyle Cothern Sr. Skyview

DB (2nd) Max Foote Sr. Middleton

P (2nd) Bowen Ogata Jr. Bishop Kelly

LB (HM) Shea Siegert* Sr. Bishop Kelly

* Siegert is injured and out for the season

RETURNING ALL-IDAHO PLAYERS

OFFENSE

POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL

WR (2nd) Eric Cotton Sr. Columbia

DEFENSE

POS. (team) NAME YR. SCHOOL

DB (2nd) Skyler Ellsworth Sr. Middleton

2011 REGULAR-SEASON LEADERS

PASSING

Jake Hennessey, MH, 136-of-243, 2,246 yards, 14 TDs, 5 Int

Austin Schaffer, Columbia*, 109-of-202, 1,553 yards, 15 TDs, 6 Int

RUSHING

Josh Bostrom, Nampa, 157 carries, 1,941 yards, 22 TDs

Andrew Spangler, Bishop Kelly*, 158 carries, 1,033 yards, 14 TDs

RECEIVING

J.T. Cristobal, Mountain Home, 42 rec., 685 yards, 6 TDs

Eric Cotton, Columbia*, 29 rec., 624 yards, 8 TDs

SACKS

AC Sesay, Columbia, 7

Kyle Cothern, Skyview*, 4

Derek Thompson, BK*, 4

INTERCEPTIONS

Spencer Salinas, Columbia, 6

Cory Brady, Bishop Kelly, *3

* Top returning player in 2012

Note: Stats do not include playoffs