Wednesday, April 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Nick Butera's relationship with Bonanza High has evolved quickly.
On Tuesday, just two seasons after joining the Bengals' football coaching staff and one week after the school announced the resignation of longtime mentor Rick Traasdahl, Butera was named head coach.
"I'm real happy (it happened so fast)," Butera said. "I really think the world of that school. It's the very best school in Nevada as far as I'm concerned and I want to bring up the football program to where everything else is there."
Traasdahl, whose Bengals had a 3-6 record last year, retired after seven years of coaching at Bonanza and 30 overall to care for his 19-year-old son Eddie, who sustained head injuries in a December auto accident.
"Nick was my recommendation when I talked with the administration," said Traasdahl, who wanted Bonanza to name Butera head coach the day after he resigned.
"It's something Nick and I have been talking about for a couple of years. We've done a lot of things together. He's been a very loyal and supportive assistant. He's been right by my side every time I've needed some help. He's been terrific."
Butera has equal words of praise for Traasdahl, whom he credits for helping make him the coach he is today.
"He's a great man," Butera said. "He got me my start there. He was an outstanding coach and I owe him a lot. I learned a great deal about all phases of coaching from him."
Butera, 31, graduated in 1983 from Bishop Gorman. He was the Gaels' starting quarterback from his sophomore year, leading them to a 29-3 record and state titles in '80 and '82.
He played at Riverside (Calif.) Junior College and graduated from UNLV before taking a math teaching position at Bonanza. His previous coaching experience includes a stint teaching Gorman's quarterbacks and receivers.
Despite his passing fancy, Butera knows the value of a diverse offensive attack.
"It's going to be the type of thing that whatever talent we have we're going to be able to use it," he said. "We can be any kind of team we want. If we need to throw 35 to 40 times a game, we'll be able to do that. If we need to run 40 times a game, we'll be able to do that, too.
"But if we can be balanced that would be the best thing. We'll be able to both effectively."
Butera wants his defensive unit to wreak havoc out of its 5-2 base.
"We're going to try to attack at all times," he said. "We're going to keep the kids aggressive."
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