By Jayme Taylor, Communication Manager, Clover Park School District
Jonathan “Taz” Randall, Clover Park High School’s football coach, was named District III Head Football Coach of the Year by the Washington State Football Coaches Association. Randall—who earned the nickname “Taz” based on his uncanny ability to impersonate the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character and his energetic spirit—hails from the great state of Wyoming and football runs in his blood.
“My mom showed me my baby book a while back and, even as a toddler, I knew that football was my destiny,” said Randall. “When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said ‘I want to play and coach football’ and that’s what I’ve been fortunate enough to do.”
Randall began playing football at a young age and played all the way through his senior year of high school when his team went undefeated and were state champions. From there, Randall moved on to play for Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. where he double majored in physical education and business administration. On the field, he was team captain and an all-conference safety.
After college graduation, Randall spent 17 years coaching high school and college football before relocating to Washington state on the recommendation of a former college teammate, Jim Goode. Goode was Clover Park’s head coach at the time, and sought Randall out to urge him to move to Washington to teach and coach. After discussing the move with his wife, Michelle, Randall and his family relocated to Lakewood in 2000. They have three children—son Shae and daughter Alexis. Their daughter, Danielle, passed away in 1991 a month before her eighth birthday after battling brain cancer.
“Over the course of my marriage, my wife has moved nine times for my various coaching positions,” said Randall. “The support of my family is essential. They’re number one.”
Randall taught special education and was the defensive coordinator during his first year at Clover Park. From there he taught PE and, after another year of coaching defense, became head coach in 2002 after Goode left to work in another school district. During his 10 years with Clover Park, Randall has also coached baseball and boy’s track. He is currently the Warrior pole vault coach for the boy’s track team.
The Washington State Football Coaches Association will honor Randall in Bellevue on Jan. 21 as part of their winter football clinic banquet.
“I’m very humbled to receive this award, but it isn’t just for me,” said Randall. “This award represents my entire coaching staff, the players and their families and the Clover Park High School community that made this all possible. We’re one big family and everyone contributes to the success of our team.”
Randall credits his “Clover Park family” for the team’s success this season—they shared the South Puget Sound League (SPSL) 2A Champion title in a three-way tie with Eatonville and Sumner High Schools. The Warriors finished 5-5 overall and 5-2 in the league. Randall was also named SPSL 2A Head Coach of the Year. Prior to this season, Clover Park had not won a league title since 1986 and had not been to the playoffs since 2004.