Tyler Hubbard is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – When Dana Zupke took over as Pinnacle head coach, his plan was to not get fired. It’s been 24 years since that moment, and Zupke is still sitting at the helm.

But when it's all said and done for Dana, that is not the end of the Zupke name at Pinnacle. 

Will and Clay Zupke, the middle and youngest of three Zupke boys, are now etching their names in the Pinnacle coaching tree. Will, the varsity linebackers and JV coach in his ninth year, and Clay, the freshman defensive coordinator in his second year, both played under their dad in high school, but you wouldn't have known they were related if you didn't know their names. 

When Will was a freshman, Dana said he “threatened the staff” to not give him any special treatment. 

“They weren't gonna get the normal experience," Dana said. “I wanted to try my best to give them the most normal experience they could and distance myself, as far as dad.” 

Dana took the same philosophy to coaching with his sons. He said the only thing that is different from his other assistants is that they may talk more football at family get-togethers. 

For Will, the difference is much larger. 

“I feel like coaching for him now, it blends out a little bit more,” Will said. “It's still got to be professional out here, but we're a lot closer. 

“It's not nearly as professional and as stringent as it was when I was playing.”

Will Zupke coaching the defense at Cactus Canyon on Oct. 23 (Tyler Hubbard/AZPreps365.com)While Dana handles the offensive side of the ball, Will coaches under defensive coordinator Dominic Robinson. Robinson is also the director of player development at the freshman level, so he gets to see a little bit of both Will and Clay. 

“You would think that they would be like their dad and they aren't," Robinson said. “All three of them coach very differently.”

He said that Clay is more laid back, while he can see a little bit of Dana in Will. 

Robinson, along with the Zupkes, helped with the recruitment of Clay back to the staff. Will, on the other hand, took one season off after high school before he knew that Pinnacle was home for much longer. 

“I missed being out here so much,” Will said. “It didn't take long after I left, that I wanted to help and get involved in any way I could.” 

For the Zupke legacy to continue at Pinnacle they were all in agreement that Will would be the one to take over as head coach. Although, Will did not see it the same.

“I don't know if I have the patience for all the organizational stuff to be a head coach,” Will said. “The patience that my dad has, I don't know if I'm there yet. Who knows, whenever he wants to retire, I don't particularly see myself taking over, but it depends on how long he coaches. Maybe in five or 10 years, I might feel differently.” 

It's been a long time coming for the Zupkes at Pinnacle, from water boys as little kids to now coaching alongside their dad. 

When Dana took over as head coach, Will and Clay were just babies, they now are responsible for helping  the next generation of Pinnacle Pioneers. 

“There's a lot of joy in having my son's coach here,” Dana said.