The job search in Brigham City started in January when a coaching shakeup added another layer to an otherwise disappointing 0-12 start to the regular season.

Seasoned college basketball coach Russell Beck, hired by Box Elder in 2023, was replaced by interim coach Casey Blacker midseason. The Bees won just nine games this season but closed region play with consecutive wins over Clearfield and Roy in overtime.

The Weber State alum Bullinger spent 10 seasons, including his most recent 9-15 finish, in his first head coaching gig with the Lakers. Opting to jump across party lines in Region 5, Bullinger said the unexpected opening at Box Elder created a unique opportunity for a head coach.

“The challenge I saw on Box Elder’s roster, at all three levels, was very difficult to ignore,” Bullinger said.

Compiling just three winning seasons during his Bonneville tenure, Bullinger considers his final Lakers campaign “one of the more fun years coaching that I’ve had.”

Bonneville finished the regular season 1-4 over the final five games — their final win of the season coming 76-69 in double-overtime at Box Elder — before ending the season with a 55-44 loss to Viewmont in the first round of the 5A state tournament.

Bullinger said that despite his contacts and awareness of the job opening at Box Elder, he remained focused on Bonneville until the end of the season. Bullinger said he’ll finish the remaining school year teaching in Weber School District.

“At no point, until after the season, did my mind think about leaving Bonneville,” Bullinger said. “We had a year here where I was extremely proud of our players. … I thought we competed really hard. We had some tough situations with injuries and illness, but throughout that our kids competed and did everything we asked them to do.”

Bullinger didn’t confirm his immediate plans to fill his Box Elder coaching staff.

Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.