HELENA -- Helena Capital head wrestling coach Jeff Mahana has announced his resignation and the search for a new head coach will begin immediately, according to a media release from Helena activities director Tim McMahon.
Mahana on Tuesday said it was an easy decision and his reasoning for resigning was to spend more time with his wife and daughter.
"My wife and I started a family last year, and we would like to continue to spend time with our little family that we're growing," Mahana told MTN Sports. "I really enjoyed my time being a coach and helping the kids, but I'm now looking forward to spending time with my own kids."
When Mahana first became the head coach of the Bruins' program, he had recently proposed to his wife, and her support from then until now was crucial during his time at the helm.
"When I proposed to my wife a few years ago, I just became the head wrestling coach, and she was so supportive. The entire time that we're in our engagement, or I'm trying to ask her to marry me, she's talking about the offseason, starting the club, fundraising, what tournaments, etc, etc.," Mahana said with a slight chuckle. We have just been so gung-ho and into it as a family. It'll be a little different, but I'm looking forward to that next step."
Mahana has led the Bruins' wrestlers for seven years, coaching several state champions and numerous state placers. The Bruins placed sixth at the 2021 State AA meet, led by individual champions Carson DesRosier at 138 pounds and Noah Kovick at 205. Keaton Pouliot (third at 285 pounds), Dylan Graham (fifth at 170), Hunter Rahn (sixth at 113) and Wyatt Schneider (sixth at 152) also placed at the 2021 state meet for the Bruins.
"Coach Mahana dedicated countless hours to his program and athletes, serving as both a coach and a mentor to all involved student athletes," McMahon stated in the release. "Coach Mahana developed wrestlers who gained skills in the sport as well as built positive memories of the time they spent in his program."
Though Mahana had success at the helm of the program, his favorite memories came from bonding with his student-athletes and watching them move on to bigger and better things.
"I would say the best part is the relationship with the kids. Being able to watch them grow from being a 14-, 15-year-old to being 18, and then following them through their adult life and knowing that we helped them become the man that they became," said Mahana.
Mahana will continue in his other roles at Capital as a teacher, driver's education instructor and assistant football coach. As for no longer being a head coach, Mahana said he looks forward to new experiences with his family.
"Looking forward to summertime with my daughter. It'll be fun to have her experience all sorts of new things for the first time," he said.
