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Jeremiah Jensen Reporting A longtime coach and teacher at Hillcrest High School was found dead in his classroom yesterday. Assistant football coach Bruce Takeno suffered a heart attack.
Students and faculty are taking this very hard. Bruce Takeno touched the lives of so many during his 21 years as a coach and teacher at Hillcrest High School.
Takeno was the head football coach at the school from 2000 to 2004. He led them to a pair of region titles and during his years of coaching more than 10 players received division one scholarships.
Two former players, Josh Savage and Scott Young are now playing in the NFL.
But Takeno didn't just touch the lives of his players; he also made a difference in the classroom as a Drivers' Ed and physical education teacher.
Brad Tingey, Hillcrest Basketball Coach: "He certainly didn't just touch the lives of the athletes. He was the Driver's Ed Chair. In a lot of ways, he basically saw every student who walked through the doors. He had a great sense of humor. The coaches--we had a great time joking around, at the same time he knew when to be serious...And he used both his serious side and his humor side as a coach to really bring out the best in all the players. And the few kids who I've talked to today seem to be handling it okay and focusing on the good things that Takeno did for them."
Takeno had the opportunity to coach his twin sons, Robert and Kevin. They are also playing college football.
Coach Takeno is survived by his wife Juanita and their four children. He was 61-years-old.
Students have organized a candlelight vigil tonight, 9pm at the Bell Canyon Circle in Sandy. He will be missed by many who walked the halls at Hillcrest High School.
