“Why I Coach” with Harlan native Randy Bissen

(Harlan) Today’s guest on the Why I Coach series has learned from a few of the best around. Carroll head boys basketball coach Randy Bissen joins the program.

Bissen played under Mitch Osborn in high school, Brian Van Haaften in college, and was mentored in his early coaching years by Keith Stribe. “Coach Osborn and Coach Van Haaften definitely have different mannerisms and you take a little bit from each coach over the years and try to adapt that to what you want to do. It’s great.”

The Harlan native played his college ball at Buena Vista, where he was also on staff after graduation. He spent some time coaching at Alta-Aurelia before moving to Carroll where he’s been the head coach the last five years. He’s done his best to build the program the right way. “It’s always about the team and getting the guys to buy in and believe in the common goal. It’s not one person and the egos are left behind. It’s about how we can move on and be successful and do the best we can as a team.”

For Bissen all the time and effort that goes along with finding success is undoubtedly worth it, regardless of the final outcome. “Those questions seem to come up more and more after you lose your last game of the season. It’s a lot of time, it’s a lot of effort, and you sit there and second guess because losing doesn’t get any easier as you get older and sometimes you question if it’s really worth it, and at the end of the day–everyday–I say absolutely.”

Previous Coaches

Colin Shawgo, ACGC

Cody Matthewson, ACGC

Shawn Danker, ACGC

Cory Bartz, Adair-Casey

John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum

Wade Anderson, Adair-Casey

Kelsey Muxfeldt, AHSTW

Evan McCarthy, AHSTW

GG Harris, AHSTW

Frank Nelsen, AHST

Jason Holst, AHSTW

Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon

Larry Allen, Avoca Native

Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)

Lee Saathoff, Atlantic

Tim Duff, Atlantic/CAM

Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center

Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native

Bob Younger, Atlantic

Dan Vargason, Atlantic

Terry Hinzmann, Atlantic

Lynn Barnes, Atlantic

Kathy Hobson, Atlantic

Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)

Dean Kiger, Audubon

Darran Miller, Audubon

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)

Molly Lange, Audubon

Sean Birks, Audubon

Monte Riebhoff, Audubon

Pete Dammel, Audubon

Tony Vis, Audubon and Harlan

Frank Howell, Audubon

Bud Legg, Anita Native

Brian Wedemeyer, Anita Native

Barry Bower, CAM

Dean Downer, CAM

Lance Lage, CAM

Joe Wollum, CAM

Dan Daugherty, CAM

Larry Hunt, CAM

Aaron Pelzer, C&M/Norwalk

Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton

Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum

Tony Petersen, Exira-EHK

Tom Petersen, Exira-EHK

Doug Newton, Exira-EHK

Terry Weisenborn, Exira-EHK

Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach

Cory Faust, Glenwood

Tom Moore, Griswold

Raymond Butt, Griswold

Jody Rossell, Griswold

Kent Gade, Griswold

Chad Rodgers, Griswold

Chris Hamilton, Griswold

Peggy Hansen, Griswold

Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley

Brent Meier, Guthrie Center

Todd Bladt, Harlan

Ken Carstens, Harlan

Mitch Osborn, Harlan

Doug Renkly, Harlan

Randy Bissen, Harlan

Steve Daeges, Harlan

Joel Osborn, Harlan

John Murtaugh, Harlan

Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak

Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central

Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley

Dan Jameson, Nodaway Valley

James Larson, Nodaway Valley

Steve Shantz, Nodaway Valley

Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley

Mitch Anderson, Riverside

Darrell Frain, Riverside

Alex Oliver, Riverside

Gary Wax, Riverside

Chris Conover, Riverside

Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center

Jason Book, (Walnut grad) ADM

Bob Gross, Walnut

Denny Book, Walnut

Kevin Suhr, (Walnut Grad) Blue Valley High School, KS