STORM
SA SAUK AUK U R RAPIDS APIDS AP ID DS HERALD HERA HE R LD RA L | SATU SATURDAY, SA ATU TURD RD DAY Y, AUGU AU AUGUST UGU GUST ST 2 ST 28, 8, 20 2021 021 21 | Pa Page Page ge 1 1B B
FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS
In his
Football coach Klaphake thrives on teaching, developing winning attitude
FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS
element
BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER
Phillip Klaphake knew he wanted to be a football coach as a child growing up in Princeton. He admits to having a fascination at an early age with how coaches designed plays – a xation fueled by his father bringing home playbooks he found at bookstores. Almost two decades later, Klaphake is ful lling his addiction for drawing up plays and nding weaknesses in opposing defenses as he enters his sixth season as head coach for Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. His Storm team opens the 2021 season against neighbor and rival Sartell at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at Riverview Stadium in Sartell. “I always wanted to be an offensive coordinator because it’s fun to call the plays,” said Klaphake who had a recordsetting four-year career as quarterback for St. Cloud State University. “Having the
PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON
Phillip Klaphake, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School head football coach, shouts words of encouragement to his team during an early season practice at SRRHS fields in Sauk Rapids. Klaphake is in his sixth season as head coach.
second at SCSU, which dropped its football program after the 2019 season. It seemed only tting Klaphake’s football career would continue by grooming high school kids to love the game. His commitment to teach kids who love the game to improve, along with seemingly tireless energy, made a perfect t to take over the program from longtime coach Bill Magnuson even with no experience as an assistant. The program has consistently drawn about 90 players in grades 9-12, a good number for a non-metro Class 5A school. Klaphake is not afraid to admit winning is not only fun but important, though he realizes building a winning tradition is not something that happens overnight. Klaphake takes an 18-25 record into the 2021 season. Year two featured a 6-4 record with victories over Brainerd, Sartell, Alexandria and state powerhouse Hutchinson. In year three, the Storm went 7-3, beating Tech twice on the way to reaching the section semi nals. Sauk Rapids-Rice was 2-7 in 2019 and went 1-4 in last Phillip Klaphake, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School head football coach, year’s shortened campaign. gives directions to his team during the first practice of the season “We talk all the time about Aug. 16 at SRRHS. The Storm open the season at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. winning,” Klaphake said. “Our 3, at Sartell.
opportunity to come to Sauk Rapids has been great. I’m still learning how to be a head coach. … There are things that are challenging about it too. But I love it.” Klaphake’s knowledge for the game, along with his physical attributes, were evident when he took to the Husky Stadium turf at SCSU. The combination of a strong arm, quick feet and football intelligence led to a stellar career. Klaphake is the SCSU alltime leader in all-purpose yards and in passing yards with 11,261. His 94 touchdown passes rank
goal is to win every single game. We’d love to win every game. We truly expect to win every game. When I say that, we have a ton of respect for everyone we play. But we’re going to walk around and have con dence that we should beat everybody. We don’t feel like there’s a team in 5A football we shouldn’t be able to at least compete with.” Klaphake’s dedication to the craft was on display during the 2020 season when he tested positive for the coronavirus. Missing the game was not an option, though protocols did not allow him on the sideline. It took creativity, but Klaphake did his job, coaching and calling the offense from his parked car adjacent to the eld. It is that type of dedication that has impressed John Rasmussen, who has been on the Sauk Rapids-Rice coaching staff for 37 years. “He’s been fantastic,” Rasmussen said of Klaphake. “The kids are excited, and they like being around him. He’s young and energetic. He’s been able to run through the cycles of a lot of talent and not much talent while still getting the most out of kids. Phillip is a phenomenal offensive coach. He’s not afraid to try new stuff, and his energy is unbelievable.
But his offensive ability and to attack people in the right way is amazing.” When his players match his energy, show a willingness to improve and buy into the program is when Klaphake most loves his job. Klaphake said this year’s players understand the game and the mentality he is trying to instill, which he hopes leads to more victories. The program has gone through some lean years and has not reached perennial power status such as Brainerd or Albany. Getting to that status is where Klaphake wants the program. “Overachieving drives me,” Klaphake said. “I want people to be surprised when they see us. … I love beating a team nobody thought you could beat. … There’s still nothing like high school football.” As much as he thrives on being a leader, Klaphake expects that role to come mostly from the players. If he sees they need an energy boost or a motivational speech, he will take that route. But, he said player-led teams are more successful than coach-led teams. “You t what you feel the group needs,” Klaphake said. “If they need energy, you bring it. You’re always picking buttons to push. In a perfect world, I’m a cheerleader in practice because the kids know what they should be doing. But you can’t be that every day.” Klaphake believes this year’s team, which features 21 seniors, has the ability to pay attention in meetings and bring what they learned to the practice eld and to Friday nights. Klaphake expects his players to care and be disciplined while having fun learning the sport. If that happens, he said he feels he has done his job. “If you love football and love being at practice, you can get really good at it,” Klaphake said. … “Some days, it’s the coaches’ job to ll their buckets, and sometimes it’s theirs to ll ours. If they ll our energy buckets more than we ll theirs, I’ll be doing this 37 years like coach Rasmussen.”
Check out previews for Storm fall sports Boys soccer .............................................2B Girls tennis ..............................................3B Girls soccer ..............................................4B Girls swimming and diving ...............5B
Volleyball .................................................6B Football ....................................................7B Boys and girls cross-country ............8B