At Fountain Hills High School, it’s not uncommon for Falcons to return to the nest. As for the athletics department, a flock of alumni has gathered on the local campus, including new head football coach Jason Henslin, boys basketball coach Matt Keating, boys soccer coach Matt Pugliano and new dance instructor Gianna Levin.

Henslin graduated from FHHS in 2002. Back in high school, he played football, basketball and baseball, and was involved with STUGO. After high school, he went on to play football for Scottsdale Community College and moved into the counseling field. He fills that role now on the high school campus.

Levin is the most recent graduate, originally leaving the next back in 2009. On campus, she was a member of the dance company. Attending Scottsdale Community College, Levin got her associate’s degree in dance while performing with a professional company. Next up was Grand Canyon State University, where she earned a degree in dance education. She will head up the new dance classes for Fountain Hills High School and the middle school.

Keating, a 2004 graduate, played basketball, cross country and track in high school. He was also a member of National Honor Society. Keating achieved his degree in education from Arizona State University. He began his tenure in Fountain Hills and now teaches history and English at the high school.

As for Pugliano, he graduated from FHHS in 2005 after playing soccer and baseball for the Falcons. He earned his degree in secondary education from Arizona State with a focus on history. Pugliano now teaches English at the middle school.

Henslin said that making his way back to Fountain Hills High School wasn’t exactly a tough decision. After serving as an assistant coach for a couple of years here, he said he found himself “scheming of ways” to find a position at the local high school.

“Then the counseling position opened up, which was kind of perfect,” he added.

For Levin, she said she’s had a strong desire to bring the popular dance program back to her alma mater.

“I’ve had a vision of coming back to Fountain Hills and restarting dance,” she said.

After college, Levin was teaching dance and pom (cheer) at another Valley school. She said Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sweeney reached out to her about beginning a new program in Fountain Hills and she jumped at the chance.

Keating said that, initially, he wasn’t planning on going into teaching. However, he had been helping coach for the local teams despite living and going to school out of town and sort of got bit by the bug.

“I then fell in love with education, through coaching here,” Keating said. “I switched my focus to education and, when I came out, there was a job open at the middle school and I took it.”

Pugliano, on the other hand, said he always wanted to teach in Fountain Hills.

“I had a conversation with one of my teachers, Sue Burcham, when I was a junior and that’s when I decided I wanted to teach and coach,” Pugliano said. “I also had a couple of influential coaches over the years, Mike Briguglio and Scott Hammond.”

While it’s not uncommon for a teen to be itching to get out of their high school and hometown, this quartet of Falcons said that was never really an issue for them.

“I remember putting together our senior video,” Henslin said. “I had heard people say they couldn’t wait to get out of this town. So in the video, there was a shot panning across the campus and I said, trust me, in 10 years you guys are going to look back and say this was a pretty great place to grow up and a pretty unique town. I’ve always felt that way and tried to instill that in folks who maybe don’t appreciate the community of Fountain Hills.”

Levin said her experience was similar.

“I loved going to high school here and I love this town,” she said. “I knew I wanted to stay connected to Fountain Hills. Everyone’s so close here. It’s the place where I want to raise my family.”

Keating and Pugliano echoed those sentiments.

“One thing I always remember for college was, whenever you walked by someone from Fountain Hills…we always stopped and said high. There was always that small town connection. I really enjoyed that, and it’s nice to be in that kind of community.”

Pugliano said he’s excited about being a part of the continuing traditions of Falcon athletics.

“You’re not one of 5,000 kids trying out for three levels of teams here,” he continued. “We have a sort of strong family atmosphere, and that’s one of the things I like about our programs.”

As for Levin, that’s the kind of environment she’s looking forward to creating with the new dance programs.

“I’m just so excited to be able to bring dance to these schools,” she continued. “I’m looking forward to introducing my students to these different art forms and creative outlooks while letting them show their own creativity.”

Those are the types of opportunities Keating said he didn’t see much of while working at a larger high school.

Henslin agreed.

“We get to share our athletes, too, which is nice,” he said. “I know at some schools, you have to commit to that one sport. Here, it’s been nice talking to these guys and figuring out a game plan so all of our kids can experience as many sports as possible. That’s just another great thing about coaching, and being a student, here.”