Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week: Jake Novotny, Fountain-Fort Carson
By Christopher Simmons
AURORA – Fountain-Fort Carson High School has powered its way to a dominant start this season, showcasing a hard-nosed, disciplined brand of football that has made the Trojans one of the most feared teams in Colorado. Behind a punishing ground game, a resilient defense, and a culture built on accountability and effort, the Trojans have surged into championship contention.
For his leadership and the Trojans’ impressive success, head coach Jake Novotny has been named CHSAA’s Denver Broncos Tackle Football Coach of the Week.
Throughout the season, a Broncos Coach of the Week will be selected for both tackle football and flag football. Then, at every Broncos home game, during a pregame on-field recognition ceremony, the Denver Broncos will celebrate a group of these Coach of the Week honorees.
Q&A with Fountain-Fort Carson Head Coach Jake Novotny
Q: What do you find most rewarding about coaching at Fountain-Fort Carson, especially in a close-knit community where football means so much to the school and town?
The most rewarding part is the diversity and sense of purpose here. Fountain-Fort Carson is one of the most diverse schools in Colorado, our student demographics almost perfectly mirror the nation’s. We have kids from every background, from military families to those who’ve lived here their whole lives. About 75% of our students are military-connected, which makes this community really special. Coaching here gives me the opportunity to mentor and support kids whose parents might be deployed or serving overseas. It’s my small way of giving back to families who serve our country. Football has deep roots here, too. The community packs the stands every Friday, and you can feel how much it means to everyone.
Q: How would you describe your coaching style on and off the field? Who have been your biggest influences?
I’d call my coaching style character-based and disciplined. My goal isn’t just to win games but to make sure every player leaves our program a better person. We talk a lot about developing men of character who will be successful in life. Our staff has two main goals: to be the best developmental coaching staff in Colorado and to give our players a great experience both on and off the field. My biggest influence was my dad, who coached me in youth sports and taught me what servant leadership looks like. Another major mentor is Carl Fetters, a CHSAA Hall of Famer who’s been coaching for nearly 60 years and is still on our staff. He’s guided me more than anyone. He’s honest, grounded, and keeps me focused on what truly matters.
Q: When you took over in 2016 following the legendary Mitch Johnson, what were the challenges of stepping into that role, and how have you built your own legacy?
Taking over after Coach Johnson was tough. He was beloved in the community, and there was a lot of emotion surrounding his departure. My first year was chaotic, five coaches for over 130 players, but we kept pushing. I wanted to honor what Coach Johnson built while slowly introducing my own vision.
It took time, but we found our rhythm. What’s special now is how full circle it’s come: Coach Johnson is still involved with our team, his son Brandon is one of my assistants, and we’ve kept many of the traditions that define Trojan football. That mix of respect for the past and growth for the future is what makes this program so meaningful.
Q: After a 5–5 season last year, you’ve bounced back with a 6–1 record and a six-game win streak. What’s been the spark behind the turnaround?
Our kids. They’ve been incredible since January. We had one of our best offseasons ever with record numbers in the weight room and total buy-in from our seniors. They didn’t like how last season ended, and they’ve taken ownership of this team’s culture. We also made some tweaks on offense and defense to fit our personnel better, but the biggest difference has been leadership and accountability. Our players have shown resilience, bought into the message, and are playing for each other.
Q: This year’s roster features a mix of veteran leaders and young talent. Who’s emerged as the heartbeat of this team?
Running back Da’kari Releford Jr. has been phenomenal, over 1,000 rushing yards already and one of the most explosive athletes in the state. He’s quiet but leads by example. Sophomore quarterback Jaylen Martin has also stepped up in a huge way. He’s competitive, confident, and our team believes in him. Defensively, Myren Johnson is the voice and emotional leader of the team. He’s everything you want in a captain, high character, humble, and dependable.
Q: You face a tough Legend squad this week, last year’s 5A runner-up. What’s the defensive focus going into that matchup?
Legend’s offense is explosive, and their quarterback is the real deal. Our focus is on execution and doing what we do best. When coaches try to overhaul everything in big games, it often hurts the players. We’re keeping things simple, playing fast, aggressive, and confident. We trust our preparation and our system. If our kids play with discipline and energy, we’ll give ourselves a chance.
Q: Your defense has been giving up just 10 points a game, and the offense is averaging over 230 rushing yards a night. How do you build that kind of toughness and balance?
It all starts in the weight room and with our identity. We want to be physical, run the ball, and play great defense. In Colorado high school football, that’s how you win in November. We’re not chasing balance for the sake of stats; to me, balance means being able to run when we need to and throw when we have to. The kids have fully bought into that identity. We don’t change week to week, we stay true to who we are, and that consistency builds confidence.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for Fountain-Fort Carson football?
Our vision is to keep developing players and providing an experience that lasts beyond football. We’re blessed with great facilities and support, but what really matters is impact. I want to retire here and see generations of players come back, guys bringing their kids to games, reaching out years later to say the program helped shape them. That’s the legacy I care about: doing right by kids and leaving the program better than I found it.
