Name: Monte Thelen
School: Cherokee Trail Cougars, Class 4A Skyline League
Record: 2-1, 1-1 league; 54-51 career in Colorado, including 1-2 in playoffs
Coaching résumé: Defensive coordinator at Bishop O’Dea High School (Seattle) from 1987-90; defensive coordinator at Sunset High School (Beaverton, Ore.), 1991-92; head coach at Aloha High School (Beaverton), 1993-94; Strasburg, 1995-96; Rangeview, 1997-2002; and Cherokee Trail, 2003-present.
Life lines: Age 45. Born in Lawrence, Kan. Graduated from Capital High School (Helena, Mont.) in 1979; and Carroll College (in Waukesha, Wis.) in 1983 with degrees in history and political science. Teaches social studies at Cherokee Trail.
Back in his day: All-state linebacker at Capital; four-year starter at Carroll.
What he has done lately: Any jump in classification or beginning a new football program can be daunting, and Thelen has been up close and personal with both in three states. In Colorado, he moved from 1A Strasburg to 5A Rangeview, then was presented with the opportunity to start up Cherokee Trail. Idle in 2003, the Cougars opened in 3A a year later by going 2-8. They were 6-5 last year, including a playoff appearance. Now, they are in 4A.
“You’re definitely kind of guessing when you haven’t played teams before, and it was a major step up in classification,” Thelen said.
Ups and downs are expected. Witness the Cougars’ 36-7 win over Greeley Central in their 4A debut before they were given a dose of reality in Week 2, a 30-14 whipping by Monarch.
Cherokee Trail responded last weekend with a 13-3 victory at 4A No. 5 Littleton.
“Our focus was to minimize mistakes made previously against Monarch,” Thelen said. “We wanted to mature as a football team. … If we played well, we could play with (Littleton).”
Skill players Manchell Jackson, Brady Martin and Gabe Walsh enjoyed key roles, notably Jackson’s interception that kept Littleton out of the end zone (the Lions had previously scored 61 points in two games).
Note
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week, in its 11th year, will have 10 honorees in the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. Lakewood’s Mark Robinson and Pueblo East’s Rick Upchurch are previous winners in 2006. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 31 game against the San Francisco 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High and receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; Marcia Neville, KCNC-4; and Andy Lindahl, KOA 850 AM.
