Jeff Dalley confirmed Friday he will no longer be the head football coach at Snake River High School. Dalley leaves the position he held for eight years to be an assistant football coach and teacher at Blackfoot High School.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” Dalley said. “Just felt like now was the time.”

Dalley led the Panthers to 3A state championships in 2011 and 2014 after spending six years as an assistant under legendary head coach Tom Harrison at Snake River. Dalley played quarterback for Harrison and was a player on Snake River’s first state championship team in 1990. Dalley coached Firth for the 2007 season before being hired to lead Snake River.

Dalley will be tutored by veteran head coach Stan Buck, who’s led Blackfoot to four 4A state titles, most recently in 2012.

“I figured it’d be good to work with Stan, to learn with him and better myself a little bit there and get that opportunity,” Dalley said.

Dalley was also an assistant boys basketball coach at Snake River for four years and said he will teach physical education at Blackfoot.

Dalley said he cherishes the time he spent at Blackfoot’s crosstown rival.

“I would highly recommend (to) anybody if they want to get into coaching, (Snake River) is a great place,” Dalley said. “You’re treated well. Supportive community. Good administration. They’ve been nothing but great to me.”

Rich Dunn, Snake River’s dean of students and Dalley’s assistant coach for eight years, voiced his gratitude for Dalley and his efforts in continuing to maintain Snake River’s elite status in Idaho 3A prep football.

“We had great success and obviously we’re very, very proud of that time (with) Jeff Dalley as the head coach,” Dunn said. “We look back on those years with great pride and wish him and his family the best of luck and we’ll move forward.”

Snake River Athletic Director Robert Coombs was not immediately available for comment, but Dunn said the school will open Dalley’s old position and begin the search for his replacement. No opening had been posted on the Snake River School District website as of Friday evening.

"Blackfoot's excited to get another real good teacher and coach," said Blackfoot Athletic Director Cody Shelley. "He's shown that he's a good teacher in the classroom and he's a coach that treats kids well and the kids enjoy playing for him and he wins. So we're happy to have him at Blackfoot High School."