The Sutera Era begins for Corner Canyon football.
Casey Sutera, who was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator before assuming the top coaching job with the Brighton Bengals four years ago, has been selected as the new head coach of the CCHS football program.
The announcement was made Tuesday, Jan. 20 by the Corner Canyon High administration after a search that attracted a field of top-tier candidates.
Sutera succeeds Coach Eric Kjar, who has left the prep gridiron ranks to lead the Weber State Wildcats.
Sutera, who in 2024 was the Utah High School Activities Association’s 5A Coach of the Year, suited up during his college years as a University of Utah Ute and helped guide Jordan High Beetdiggers’ football squad before working alongside Kjar on the sidelines at Charger Stadium.
During his tenure at head coach of the Bengals, Sutera notched a 35-14 win-loss record, and led Brighton through the 2025 post-season to arrive at the semifinal game at Rice-Eccles against Springville. The Bengals reached the semifinals in 2024, as well.
“I am incredibly grateful for my time at Brighton. I will forever be honored to say I was a Bengal,” says Sutera, adding that he enjoyed tremendous community support at the Cottonwood Heights-area school. “Looking to the future, I am honored to return to the Corner Canyon, this time as the head coach. It’s a humbling and awesome opportunity.”
Sutera, who begins his role at Corner Canyon next week, acknowledges the “big expectation” for the coach after Kjar, who led the Chargers to nine winning seasons, two back-to-back-to-back state titles, and an appearance in the first-ever prep football championship game.
“Eric Kjar is one of one. You can’t fill his shoes. You simply cannot duplicate him,” says Sutera, who plans to meet with Charger players during an early morning conditioning session in the coming days. “Obviously, there are big expectations in this community. I want to continue the traditions, success, and culture while also bringing to life a new vision for the team.”
Sutera, who lives in Draper, expresses deep appreciation for those in the community who advocated for his return to Corner Canyon. “I hope to be a coach who makes an impact on the program, the school, the community, and on every player who is a part of our team,” he says. “That is the pressure I feel, more than the wins and the losses.”
Corner Canyon Principal Dina Kohler looks forward to Friday Night Lights as the Sutera Era begins at Charger Stadium.
“We’re confident in Coach Sutera’s vision for the program. He’s committed to carrying on the legacies of past coaches, but will no doubt carve a new, exciting direction for Corner Canyon.”
