Name: Dan Schmidt
School: Class A 8-man Julesburg Lions, Plains League
Record: 1-1 overall, 1-0 in league, first year as head coach
Coaching résumé: Seven years in high school as an assistant at Otis and Julesburg, and in California and Montana
Life lines: Age 38, native of Holyoke, graduated in 1985; graduated from Montana State in 1990 with a degree in band music education. Also earned master’s degree in educational leadership.
Back in his day: All-Lower Platte League kicker for the Dragons from 1982-84; one-year walk-on at Montana State
What he has done lately: Strike up the band! Schmidt, even when considering the necessary multitasking performed across Colorado on the small-school level, employs a unique combination.
He is Julesburg’s head football coach as well as the high school’s band and choir director. He also handles music on the district’s elementary level.
“I’ve run into that my whole life,” he said, laughing at the oddity. “I don’t know. It just combines the things I love to do the most.”
Since Friday night, the song in his heart has been louder – the Lions halted an 18-game losing streak with a 54-24 drubbing of Genoa-Hugo in league play. The Lions hadn’t won since the 2002 8-man state preliminaries, when they beat Westland Christian 76-20.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Schmidt said of his players’ glee. “They were thrilled.”
After consecutive 0-8 seasons in 2003 and 2004 – outscored 731-206 – Julesburg gained confidence despite dropping its 2005 season opener, 32-28 to South Platte, Neb.
“I knew we’d put an end to (the losing streak),” Schmidt said. “It was our homecoming game as well. I didn’t have to say much. The guys were prepared.”
Note
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week, in its 10th year, will have 10 honorees in the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 11 home game against the Baltimore Ravens and receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; Susie Wargin, KUSA-Channel 9; Marcia Neville, KCNC-TV; and Andy Lindahl, KKZN-760 AM.
