Colorado High School Football: Legend Coach Cleared for Playoffs

Jake Heaps will stand on the sideline for the Legend High School football team in the upcoming Class 5A playoffs. The Colorado High School Activities Association board of directors removed the head coach from a status that previously barred him from being onsite during postseason games.

The board made the decision at its meeting on Oct. 21. CHSAA released a statement on Thursday confirming the change. The association described the move as standard procedure for a coach who met the specific requirements outlined in its bylaws.

Heaps was suspended for the first two games of the 2026 season. He remained under restriction following two program rule violations over the past year. Under Bylaw 2420, coaches under restriction cannot be present during playoff competition. Now that the restriction is lifted, he is eligible to coach in the Titans' playoff opener.

Legend holds a bye in this week's first round. The team will host the winner of the matchup between Chatfield and Denver East in the second round next week at EchoPark Stadium. The Titans currently hold the No. 5 seed in the playoff bracket.

To lift the restriction, Heaps and the school had to show they took administrative actions to prevent the violations from happening again, according to Bylaw 2420.13. The specific actions taken were not made public, but the board determined they were sufficient for reinstatement. Heaps is now on probation under CHSAA rules. The Legend football program as a whole also remains on probation due to an impermissible contact violation by a freshman coach last year.

The most recent issue involved preseason practice rules. The team held padded practices during the CHSAA Heat Acclimatization Period, a time when such contact was not allowed. Heaps was unavailable for an interview on Thursday but sent a written statement to The Denver Post.

Heaps wrote that the Titans are excited for the postseason. He expressed gratitude to the association for its guidance through the reinstatement process. He added that his focus is on team preparation and finishing what the program started. He stated the program will be stronger for having gone through the process.

Heaps is in his second season as head coach. Last fall, he led the Titans to the Class 5A quarterfinals. The team lost 31-30 to Valor Christian in a game decided by a missed two-point conversion on the final play. Before Heaps took over, the team under Monte Thelen lost 13-10 to Cherry Creek in the state championship game.

Heaps is a former college and professional quarterback who served as Russell Wilson's personal quarterback coach. His staff includes Garett Boles, a former Broncos left tackle who serves as the director of player development. The current roster features junior quarterback Kellen Mauck, senior running back Jayden Scaife, senior wide receiver Kellen Marchand, and senior linebacker Carter Berard.

Legend finished the regular season with a 7-3 record. The team lost to No. 6 Grandview 28-24 in the season opener on Aug. 28. It also fell to No. 1 Cherry Creek 34-28 in overtime on Sept. 10 and lost 42-0 to No. 2 Valor Christian in league play on Oct. 2. A win in the second round would likely set up a quarterfinal matchup against No. 3 Mountain Vista, a team led by senior quarterback Marquise Reese who is committed to Colorado State.