Aaron Johnson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona College Prep for  AZPreps 365.com 

When it was announced that Jacob Rutter would take over as head coach for the Arizona College Prep football team and become the fourth head coach in four years, the team already had lots of practice adjusting to new leadership. 

“We had already had three coaches in three years, so we were kind of used to it,” senior quarterback Gunnar Schmidt said. “There wasn’t any wavering. We were ready to take whatever came to us.” 

While having this much turmoil would typically hurt a team, AZ College Prep has continued to win, going 7-3 and clinching a first round playoff bye under Rutter. 

Over the past four seasons the Knights have gone a combined 36-12 prior to the 2026 playoffs while getting promoted to 5A in 2025, and according to Rutter, the Knights will be moving to 6A in 2027. 

“I feel like if we had changed coaches only one time there would have been (challenges), " Schmidt said. “But with four new head coaches and four new offenses, it was kind of the norm for us to adapt in spring ball, get it all figured out in summer ball and then attack when it gets to the regular season.” 

In 2017, Arizona College Prep launched its football program and named Myron Blueford the first head coach. Under Blueford the program went 2-8 in its first season and 1-9 in year two. 

In 2019, the team had its first winning season, going 8-3 and securing its first playoff berth, albeit a 35-13 loss to Blue Ridge. In the 2022 season the Knights were promoted to 4A and their first big run came in 2023 when they went 8-4 and snatched their first playoff victory in a 21-14 win over Lee Williams in the first round. 

The week was followed by heartbreak as they dropped their next game to Canyon Del Oro, 33-27, in a quadruple overtime loss. 

The foundation had seemed to be built in Blueford's seventh year as the head coach of the program but in December 2023 he stepped down as  head coach. 

“There were a lot of factors that made me re-evaluate my life,” Blueford said in an interview with the East Valley Tribune in 2023. “Ultimately, just talking with my family and my tight circle of coaches and colleagues, I decided it was time to take a break, re-evaluate and see what my life is going to be like moving forward.”  

In 2024 ACP promoted defensive coordinator Steve Vaught to head coach, marking just the second coach in program history and what followed was a huge step forward for the Knights. 

After losing the season opener 42-7 to Crown Point, the Knights won their next nine games, cruising to a program best 9-1 record, which included a 5-0 first-place finish in the 4A Desert Sky region. 

In the playoffs, ACP collected three wins against Estrella Foothills, Arcadia and Snowflake to advance to the 4A state championship game. 

Ultimately, ACP came up short in a 42-13 loss to Mica Mountain. 

With Vaught at the helm it seemed the Knights were going to carry this momentum over into the following season. The Knights also were set to be promoted to 5A for the 2025 season. 

But Vaught announced he was stepping down as head coach at the conclusion of the 2024 season because he wanted  to “pursue professional opportunities outside the field of education” according to an email sent to parents by principal Rob Bickes. 

“Coach Vaught said he would be here at least until the ‘26 class left,” senior running back JJ Horne said. “So him leaving was kind of shocking and it hurt.” 

ACP then hired Derek Zellner to take over as head coach in the 2025 season. 

In the Knights' first year in 5A they went 9-3, which included a 35-34 playoff win against Cactus Shadows before falling in the quarterfinals to ALA-Gilbert North, 38-20. 

Following that season Zellner then stepped down to prioritize his “health and well being,” according to another email sent by Bickes to the parents. 

For the 2026 season ACP hired Chandler native Rutter to lead the program. 

“It hasn’t been easy. Like you trust a coach and then they leave," senior linebacker Cole Caiazzo said. "(You just hope) that the next one is going to stay. (Rutter has helped build trust by) always keeping the door open, always letting us speak and give advice and opinions.”

Rutter had previously served as the track and field coach and a defensive assistant coach for the Knights. 

“I didn’t have any personal relationships with them but I knew a lot of them and I would say around half of the coaching staff was here in 2024 when coach Vaught was here,” Rutter said. “So there's been a lot of familiar faces in the coaching staff, which I think has helped the kids transition more easily.” 

Rutter played high school football at Basha and Valley Christian and grew up in Chandler. Now, he gets to lead a football team in his hometown. 

“My parents come to games, my brother and sister come to games, my wife and kids come to games,” Rutter said. “It’s really cool to be from here and be at a school that wasn’t built when I was in high school and now to get to run it is a huge honor and I’m just grateful.” 

Now with the Knights awaiting their playoff opponent and clinching their fourth consecutive winning season, they have been able to succeed in the face of adversity. 

“I feel like ever since we walked in here as freshman none of us have really fallen out of being teammates,” Schmidt said. “So when a change happens or whatever it is, we don’t (listen) to what's happening on the outside. But I believe in my teammates and they believe in me.” 

ACP (7-3) will host Canyon View (9-2) on Friday in the second round of the 5A playoffs.