(Harlan) Northwest Missouri State assistant football coach Joel Osborn is the guest this week on KSOM/KS95’s Why I Coach series.
The Harlan grad has been a key ingredient in the Bearcats success both as a player and a coach over the last fifteen years. In fact, they won a national championship in his first year on staff and they’ve been a marquee program throughout. Even with all the success, it’s the relationships that Osborn mentions first among his memories. “Seeing the guys that we coach develop into young men, be able graduate from Northwest, get a job, maintain their job, and excel at their job, get married, and start a family then come back to Northwest and introduce us to their families. That’s probably the coolest part about it. You maintain those relationships over the years.”
Of course the wins and big games have been fun too. “I’ve been able to be a part of some really fun environments and games whether you’re playing at Arrowhead Stadium or in Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park for a national championship, or playing in the last national championship at Alabama in 2013. Those are some of the best memories.”
Osborn has been around great coaches his entire life whether it be at Harlan or at Northwest Missouri State. Of course the one he’s closest to would be his dad Mitch who is among Iowa’s all-time leaders in boys basketball victories. “The thing with my dad is he’s always so involved with our life outside of sports too. He’s a great mentor and great person to lean on for advice when you need things. He’s not pushy, but we’ll talk game strategy and he has great advice for situations and how to handle people. He’s not going to tell you unless you ask him. If you ask good questions you can gain great knowledge from him.”
Previous Coaches
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
