(Treynor) Treynor boys track coach Jeff Koenck joins the “Why I Coach” series. Coach Koenck previously spent time at both Griswold and Walnut.
Koenck got his start at Walnut where he was thrown into junior high volleyball in his first year and by year two he was head coach for girls basketball. One of the first people that he learned a lot from was an opposing coach, Exira’s Tom Petersen. “Obviously a super, super great guy and a phenomenal coach. He kind of took me under his wing. Was willing to answer questions for me. I could reach out to him. That really was probably the most beneficial for me early on in my coaching career.”
Later on Koenck rubbed elbows with another coaching icon when he was an assistant in Treynor for Gail Hartigan. “To coach under her was amazing. Just her ability to take in what I felt should happen or what it should look like. That’s my biggest takeaway. I couldn’t appreciate any more her approach to allowing me to feel like I had a say in the game plan or what practices look like. I haven’t had that from other coaches and that’s just another reason that makes her a great coach and I’m thankful she’s been a mentor of mine.”
Koenck enjoyed one very successful season as head volleyball coach at Treynor, but track and field has become his main gig now. The Denison native led the Cardinals to a state runner-up finish last spring. “Just get kids out and make it fun for them. We have a pretty laid back approach at practice, but our kids know that we can have fun but when it’s time to get down to business and do what we need to get better we are going to do that. We’ve really tried to create a culture where track is fun. I’ve been blessed to have kids that love to compete.” He says, “They like to compete and that’s what I love to see out of kids is that competitive edge and refusal to lose and that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Being relatable and proving to kids that you are invested are two things he lists as keys to success.
Previous Coaches
(Click to listen)
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Jason Mehrhoff, Anita Native (Carlisle)
Eric Hjelle, Elk Horn-Kimballton grad (Underwood)
Brett Watson, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum (Waukee Northwest)
Warren Watson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Scott Yates, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Marc Bierbaum, Griswold grad and Iowa Western track/cross country assistant
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Curt Schulte, Harlan graduate (Glenwood)
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center
Josh Abel, (Walnut grad), Tri-Center
