After six years of teaching and coaching the football and track team, Tana Vea says goodbye to the Juan Diego community as he moves on to Weber State University. Whether it was watching Tana lead prayer before reading period, seeing him dance or sing in the auditorium, or just smiling when passing him in the halls, Tana had an effect on everyone here at Juan Diego.

Tana Vea, Class of 2010 alumni, returned to Juan Diego in 2014 and is now on the Campus Life and PE Departments, being an Assistant Football and Track Coach. “Coming back to Juan Diego felt like I never left,” Vea said. “Coming back also made me more appreciative of the faculty and staff that was here when I was here. I was able to see how everything works. I see the people cleaning the building every day, I see how hard a teacher has to work to create a great lesson plan, I see the sacrifice our staff makes to create retreats and fun activities, I see how hard Student Government works to create the pep rallies and decorating the school on days off. When I was a student I never noticed these things. I never realized the hard work behind the scenes to create a great experience for me and lasting memories. Now, I try to help create the same experiences I had as a student for the current students.”

Coach Vea was able to make every encounter with him memorable. “Having Tana as a teacher/coach was the best,” senior Michael Clay said. “He makes everything so much fun and there is never a single dull moment.” Vea tried doing this in every class by being his students’ biggest supporter and having a positive atmosphere. “I love joking around with the kids,” Vea continued, “Watching kids succeed, gassing up kids who need confidence, and also humbling kids who are overconfident. I love being weird and playing weird music in my class.”

“I am really going to miss Tana,” Maoake Tahirori said. “Tana was always able to push me at every work out and practice and I’m going to miss having that every day. But, this is a win for him and his coaching career, and I am glad that he is going forward in his life,” Tahirori finished. As Tana Vea says goodbye to Juan Diego this new year, he finds his new home at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where he will be taking a Football Coaching Job as an Undergraduate Offensive Assistant.