Written By: Sven Alskog
There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the Glenns Ferry football program after the school was the last in Idaho to hire a new head football coach for the 2019 season.
The end result of that search yielded Lonnie Funkhouser, an exciting hire who comes to the school from Wendell, where he was an assistant last year. Funkhouser also served as head coach at Hagerman from 1997 through 2009, as an assistant for the same school from 2010 to 2013 and also as an assistant at Gooding from 2014 through 2017.
Hiring Funkhouser gives instant credibility to the Pilots, as he has coached some of the best talent to come out of the Magic Valley over the last couple of decades.
Senior quarterback Tanner Martinez leads the way for the returning talent pool for Glenns Ferry.
Last season the offense put up impressive point totals over the first half of the year, starting 3-2. From that point on, the Pilots failed to eclipse 18 points as the squad finished the year on a four-game losing streak.
The defense struggled as well down the stretch, allowing 68, 47, 28 and 52 points.
Enter Funkhouser, who is well-known for his work with linebackers and defenses in general. Glenns Ferry should see instant improvement on the defensive side of the ball, which is pivotal against the high-powered offensive attacks residing within the 1AD1 Snake River Conference.
The Pilots start the 2019 season on August 30 with a home game against Rimrock.