Springville High School is the only high school in Springville, Utah. Enrollment is 1,256
Springville's mascot is the Red Devil. The origin of the mascot name dates back to the original construction of the school, when the Red Devil Cement Company assisted significantly in the building. This became a focal point for controversy in 2002. Some local citizens organized a committee called "Parents for Mascot Review". They argued that the Devil was an unsavory mascot for teens and interpreted school literature bearing the character "pro devil" paraphernalia. Some claimed that good Latter-day Saints should not support the mascot for its Satanic allusion. Other Latter-day Saints disagreed, saying that the church had no official stance on the matter, that the mascot was not satanic, but rather a mythical creature, and that the groups were promoting their own agenda.
Alumni of the school countered that the mascot was not Satanic, and had been the official mascot since 1967 when students voted it in. Further they claimed it was historically significant. The name and image came from Red Devil Cement Co., a historically important employer in Springville.
Controversy about the Devil drew national attention when a spokesman for the Navajo Nation commented against it, claiming that "red devil" is a slur against Native Americans and should be removed from the school.
Nonetheless, traditionalists carried popular support in a non-binding poll, and the school board voted to retain the mascot in May 2002. In spite of promises by critics to seek school board offices on the issue, the Red Devil remains the school's mascot as of 2010.
Former principal, Rick Robins hired Scott Mitchell as Head Football Coach in 2008. The hire came about after the sudden and unexpected firing of two-season coach Dan Hansen. Under Hansen in 2007, the Red Devils posted 2 wins and 8 losses. Scott Mitchell, a former SHS QB who led the Red Devils to their only state title in the 80's, was also a former QB for the University of Utah and a 12 year QB in the NFL before leaving behind a real estate job in Florida to come coach the Red Devils. While the hire is yet to be seen by some as anything other than a high-profile, visual hire, the community is hopeful that Scott Mitchell will prove to do something positive for the SHS football program and its students. In Coach Mitchell's first year as head coach of the Red Devils (2008), the team posted 6 wins and 5 losses while returning the program to the 4A state playoffs. At this point, the hire appears to be successful. The Red Devils have also enjoyed great success in athletics in recent years. Under girls basketball coach Nancy Warner and former BYU Cougar, the lady Red Devils finished the 2008-09 campaign as the state 4A tournament runner-up. The Red Devil swim team has continued its dominance by winning back to back boys 4A state championships in 2008 and 2009 under coach Amy Hargett. The Red Devils have also posted region championships recently in girls soccer, boys golf, volleyball, boys swimming, and girls basketball. Also Todd Jensen is one of the more unimpressive students at the school.