13 minute read
Three coaching legends retire
by TOM FENTON Freed, who spent five seasons as head
Let’s Play Football coach in Houston, Minn., and led his team to a state Nine-Man championship. “I am not intimidated and I know
Replacing a coaching legend at what my style and personality is as a any level of football can go both ways. head coach. Like anything, you’ve got It certainly worked for the Dallas to feel things out and find your niche Cowboys when Jimmy Johnson took with the kids and program. over for Tom Landry. The same is true “Having been in the program for when Bill Cowher replaced Chuck the past 11 seasons though has al- Jeff Ferguson (left) retired after winning eight state titles with Totino-Grace. AssisNoll for the Pittsburgh Steelers. lowed me to establish those relation- tant coach Jay Anderson takes over the reigns.
Gerry Faust replacing Dan Devine ships with kids and coaches on the at the University of Notre Dame? Not staff. Also knowing the foundation so much. The University of Florida’s that Coach Stolski left creates a peace choice of replacing Steve Spurrier of mind as well. I always say I know with Ron Zook was equally disastrous one way on how to be a football coach for a proud Gators’ program. and that is ‘all in’ and my philosophy is
Regardless of results, the process very much like Coach Stolski’s which of replacing a successful coach in high is to create a football experience that school football is a process that can be kids want to be part of.” enduring, frustrating and rewarding. Freed went to high school in Among the names to debut as head Northwest Iowa before attending Lucoaches in Minnesota this season are ther College, where he helped coach Jason Freed at Brainerd, Mark Esch at for one year before heading to HousMinnetonka and Jay Anderson at Tot- ton, which was a struggling program. ino-Grace. Added administrative duties are
Throw in the fact there almost heavily increased as head coach, wasn’t a season due to COVID-19 such as hiring seven new coaches in and then having to prepare for a short- Grades 9-12. Those duties tend to get ened season in the way of in two weeks is a recipe for “I am not intimidated and I know game-planning, but Freed said overwhelming what my style and personality is as it’s all part of the stress. But, it’s all part of the job for both rookie and veteran coaches. a head coach. Like anything, you’ve got to feel things out and find your niche with the kids and program.” – Jason Freed, Brainerd head coach process. “Like anything, you’ve got to get back into the role of being Jason Freed (pictured) takes over for Ron Stolski, who has coached for 58 years and 45 of them at Brainerd High School. Mark Esch (pictured) will take over for Dave Nelson at Minnetonka. Nelson coached 42 years and owns two state titles including 2004 for Minnetonka.
“I am just a head coach, excited to be the but having did ply to build relationships and create a his success. He created a team-first coach of the Brainerd Warriors,” said that for five years prior gave me the culture of accountability. These are the culture and had tremendous relationFreed, who is in his 12th year on the confidence of where I needed to start building blocks for the ultimate goal ships with and respect from his playBrainerd coaching staff. “I know the with the program and then make a de- of a ‘culture of character.’ A culture ers. We used the term ‘brotherhood’ job comes with its own challenges and tailed plan from there,” Freed said. “I that takes care of itself and benefits when describing our program, and it I knew that when I took it, but I am ex- am excited to be able to get the new everyone on the team. The community was so much more than just a word, it cited to get to work with the staff and coaches involved and mixed in with and football family has been great and was truly a way of life. There is always build upon the tradition that is Brain- the staff members who stayed on with totally supportive. The administration change and an adjustment period. Jay erd Warrior Football. I think the transi- the program. We hit the ground run- has been great to work with.” Anderson is going to do a great job tion has been pretty seamless.” ning in March and have been sprinting taking over the program as the head ever since.” Assistant in at Totino-Grace coach, and we have so many talented Taking the reigns Anderson was a longtime assistant coaches on our staff that I expect the
Every coach has their own philos- Skipper of the Skippers for Jeff Ferguson at Totino-Grace. All transition to be smooth.” ophies. Finding that balance of re- As familiar as Stolski was in the Anderson has to replace is an 18-year specting their predecessor and imple- North Country, Dave Nelson had the era that included eight state titles. Six Season different for everyone menting new strategies are among the same swagger in the Twin Cities area. of those championships came in Class Keeping the players motivated many challenges. Nelson coached for 42 years, win- 4A, one in 5A and one in 6A as Fergu- and interested in a season that does
Replacing Ron Stolski in Brainerd ning a state championship at Blaine in son believed in playing the best pos- not have the carrot of playing at U.S. ranks among one of the more difficult 1988 and leading sible competi- Bank Stadium dangling at the end of tasks. Stolski was Brainerd football Minnetonka to tion. the line adds to the challenge for new since 1975 and coached for 58 years the big school “My philosophy as a coach is simply Ferguson’s and experienced coaches. In August, before retiring last fall. Stolski confidently, intently and sometimes nervously roamed the sidelines of Central and Northern Minnesota with his Warcrown in 2004. He was at Minnetonka for 17 years and earned to build relationships and create a culture of accountability. These are the building blocks for the ultimate final record of 187-35 is fourth all-time among Minnethe Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors voted to postpone the season until March due to COVID-19 safety concerns. riors. 267 career victo- goal of a ‘culture of character.’ A sota coaches for That move was met by skep-
Seeing him lead his sea of blue, ries before hand- culture that takes care of itself and winning per- ticism from coaches, parents and white and silver-clad players down the steps from the high school to the field ing over control to Esch, who benefits everyone on the team.” centage (.842). He was a degroundskeepers. Ultimately, the Board reversed its decision, allowing teams was an intimidating site for visiting grew up playing – Mark Esch, Minnetonka head coach fensive-mind- to play a six-game schedule with a teams. Stolski finished his career with football in tradi- ed coach who to-be-determined playoff format and a 389-182-5 career record – which tion-rich Caledo- earned acco- no more than 250 fans in attendance. ranks second in all-time wins behind nia. lades from his staff, including 12-year “It’s been an up and down year Verndale’s Mike Mahlen’s 401. Stol- Unlike Freed, Esch only had one assistant Anthony LaPanta. with COVID,” Esch said. “I’m proud ski’s Brainerd teams also won 10 sec- year of experience with his new pro- “Ferguson was the best defensive of how our kids have handled the tion titles and reached the Prep Bowl gram. Esch hopes to use the lack of coach I have ever known. He under- rollercoaster of having a season, not in 2013, where the Warriors were beat- familiarity to his advantage as he im- stood the variety of offenses against having a season, then having a seaen by Owatonna. plements his style, strategy and per- whom we would prepare as well as son again. We have taken measures
Filling Paul Bunyan’s shoes on the sonality. anybody,” said LaPanta, who coaches to implement social distancing and north side of town might be easier than “I try not to focus on following the Eagles’ defensive backs. “He un- masks and done our best to prevent the replacing such success on the gridiron. coach Nelson,” said Esch, who played derstood blocking schemes and how to spread. So far we have been success-
“Stepping into the role as the collegiately at Wisconsin-LaCrosse, defeat them. Whether it was an option ful. We take it one week at a time and head football coach at Brainerd High where he also coached for one year. team, the veer, Wing-T, or spread – he do our best to have fun.” School, the first name people think “I focus on doing what I do best and understood concepts and was as good of is Ron Stolski. He established an creating the best possible culture for at prepping a game plan and making – LEGENDS – extremely strong foundation for what Warrior football is all about,” said success. “My philosophy as a coach is simin-game adjustments as anybody. “But that was really just a part of continued on page 6
Let’s Play Football NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Every week players go above and beyond and perform at the highest level. Here is a look at the top performers for the first two weeks of the season
Trey Feeney
Zach Yeager
QuarterBack
Trey Feeney, Moorhead, Sr.
The 6’2” 180-pound quarterback for the Spuds has lit up opponent secondaries with 10 touchdown passes in the team’s first two games. In their season opener at Buffalo, Feeney threw for 408 yards and six touchdowns on 17-for-24 passing, leading the Spuds to a 56-6 win. Not to be outdone, he did it again Oct. 16 in a 42-0 win over Alexandria by throwing for four touchdowns on 22 completions and 226 yards. He currently leads the state in completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
The North Dakota recruit threw for 2,986 yards as a junior and 29 touchdowns. The Spuds advanced to the state tournament a year ago where they lost to Elk River 58-55. In that game Feeney threw five TD passes and threw for 446 yards.
Up Next: Moorhead (2-0) @ Sartell-St. Stephen (1-1). QuarterBack
Zach Yeager, Minneapolis North, Sr.
Yeager has put together two strong games behind center for Minneapolis North, leading them to two lopsided wins over St. Anthony (40-0) and Providence Academy (40-10). In the win over St. Anthony, Yeager threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. Last week he threw five touchdown passes against Providence Academy on 270 yards passing. The North Carolina A&T recruit possesses great size and athletic ability at 6-2, 200 pounds.
Up Next: Minneapolis North (2-0) @ Mound Westonka (1-1). RUNNING BACK
Zac Janz, Farmington, Sr.
Janz opened the season with a bang for Farmington, who is off to a 2-0 start thanks to two impressive performances from their senior running back. Janz scored five touchdowns in the season-opener 68-13 win over Eagan. Janz rushed 12 times for 119 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry. He followed that up with a three touchdown game in Farmington’s 48-7 win over Hopkins. The 5-9, 200 pound runner has rushed for 203 yards in the first two games.
Up Next: Farmington (2-0) vs. Burnsville (0-1). RUNNING BACK
Austin Freerksen, Byron, Sr.
Freerksen rushed for 313 yards in last week’s win over Winona. He scored three touchdowns in the shutout victory. In the opener he rushed for 198 yards and scored four touchdowns.
Up Next: Byron (2-0) @ Austin (1-1) Wide receiver
Levi Lampert, Upsala/Swanville
Lampert has caught 10 passes so far on the season and nine of them have turned into touchdowns. He had five catches in the season opener and scored on all five, totaling 167 yards. Last week in a loss to Browerville/Eagle Valley, he caught five more passes and scored on four of them. On the season he has 10 catches for 273 yards.
Mekhi Collins, Mankato West, Jr.
At 6’5” Collins is a big target and has hauled in four touchdowns in the team’s first two games this season. In the season opener he caught three passes for 67 yards and two scores and followed up last week with five catches for 102 yards and two more touchdowns.
Up Next: Mankato West (2-0) vs. Northfield (0-2). Defense
Connor Bushbaum, DB, South Ridge
Bushbaum has proven he can dominate on both sides of the ball. With 467 yards rushing through two games and six touchdowns, Bushbaum has been a dominant offensive force. But he also is doing it defensively with three interceptions to his credit through the first two games. He picked off one pass in the team’s 48-6 season-opening win over Ely. He then picked off two passes last week in a 44-0 win over Northeast Range.
Up Next: South Ridge (2-0) vs. Cook County (0-2). Defense
Cody Gartner, DL, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton
Gartner has been a dominating force on defense for JWP, notching 19 tackles, including six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks through the team’s first two games.
2020 Vikings-Gatorade Coach of the Week
The Vikings continue in 2020 to recognize outstanding high school coaches from across the state in the Coach of the Week program. Weekly winners will receive $1,000 for their high school football programs and will be eligible to earn the High School Coach of the Year.
Week 1 ..............Dave Dahlstrom....................Foley High Week 2 .................Jared Essler..... St. Michael-Albertville Week 3 ......................................................................TBD Week 4 ......................................................................TBD Week 5 ......................................................................TBD Week 6 ......................................................................TBD
LEGENDS continued from page 5
LaPanta said the restrictions related to COVID-19, such as no summer workouts, no August two-a-day practices and no locker rooms have presented additional challenges for a staff that experienced some turnover.
“This season would have been a challenge anyway with the turnover on our staff,” LaPanta said. “But when you add the bizarre COVID world issues, and it has been remarkable. No June Camp, no summer workouts, and then the announcement that it’s canceled – ‘Oh wait, it’s back on.’ All of it presented challenges, and we are still dealing with them today. We are in a constant state of adaptation, and the kids have handled it very well.”
Lessons continue
For Freed, it’s yet another way to teach an important off-the-field lesson.
“Taking over as a head coach during COVID has probably been one in my life, and any coach right now would probably say the same thing. It’s been a major challenge to say the least. We were excited to hear the seaball belongs in the fall. Granted this fall might end up being a little more chilly than we are used to for a full season.
“Our message has been very simple with kids – we can only control what we can control in life and right now we need to embrace every day we get to practice and play the game of football. I really feel this generation is getting a real lesson in resilience in life and they are probably disappointed in the fact that the ‘Prep Bowl’ isn’t going to happen, but after last spring I truly think they are grateful to be playing more than anything. Motivation has been a challenge, but our philosophy has been since I took the job to of the hardest things I have had to do
our players and then the motivation piece often can take care of itself. It also takes great leadership with your team and staff to make that happen.”
