(Cedar Rapids) A postgame confrontation with a parent two years ago led to Tony Vis stepping down as head coach of the Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls, but the former Audubon and Harlan leader hasn’t gotten out of coaching altogether. He’s now the sophomore boys coach for the Cougars and is loving the change.
Vis says basketball was his favorite sport ever since he was introduced to it in 3rd grade. Growing up, he know he wanted to have an impact on kids the way his coaches did on him. While he loves the X’s and O’s, he acknowledges connecting with the student-athletes the #1 component of coaching. “If you can be very relational and meet them where they are at to become that mentor for them they’ll run through a brick wall for you. With today’s kids that would be my biggest piece of advice to make sure relationships are at the forefront. The X’s and O’s are important, don’t get me wrong, but at the same time they aren’t going to care what you know until they know that you care.”
He’s been a head coach at five different high schools in Iowa including Audubon and Harlan. After Frank Howell left Audubon for Cedar Rapids Washington, Vis entered the equation with the Wheeler and encountered a lot of great people. “One of my favorite assistant coaches was Kim Subbert. Kim is a fantastic guy with a great family. Eric Traiger was another one. He’s the superintendent now. Steve Dvorak did a fantastic job with the youth program. I had a family friend that we’d been close with for a while and she grew up in Exira. One of the things that she talked about with me was the fact that if she had to do it over again they would have raised their kids in a place like Audubon or Exira.”
The trend of being surrounded by great coaches was only enhanced when he moved on to Harlan. “It’s kind of like a coaching clinic all the time. My first few years I taught there I was fortunate enough to have the same lunch as Curt Bladt and just listened to the stories and looked at his overall philosophies. Mitch Osborn is unbelievable in what he does as an AD and a basketball coach. I really soaked up the way he was able to simulate the opposing teams and what they’d do. Mitch also was fantastic at the whole level how he would go in and run the youth practices. Coach Steve Daeges was a brilliant mind. He really understands the whole numbers things. It’s incredible the assortment of coaches they have there. Just a great staff and great community.”
Vis stepped down as head coach of the Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls in 2018. He’s since moved into a new role as the sophomore boys coach. At this stage of his career that’s been a welcome transition. He hasn’t ruled out being a head coach again in the future, but believes his current role is what is best for he and his family right now. “You’re the sophomore boys coach. You don’t have to worry about a JV program or the Freshman program. You can focus just on that level. I enjoy still being a part and helping out with the Varsity. Maybe having more of a good cop role if you will.”
Previous Coaches
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
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)
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)
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
