(Neola) Anita native Gene Johnson is the head boys track coach at Tri-Center and serves as a boys basketball assistant. Johnson joins the Why I Coach series.
Johnson credits being around great coaches at CAM for getting him interested in coaching including his father Lynn along with Rex Merhoff. He comments on what he learned from his dad. “Just being consistent no matter what type of talent you have. You are going to be a positive influence on them. Just being consistent and working with every kid no matter the talent is very important.”
Johnson originally considered football to be the main sport he’d coach, but when he landed at Tri-Center he joined the basketball staff and has since become the head track coach. The track job is one he’s become very fond of. “I just really enjoy being around the kids. We’ve had great kids throughout the years. It’s a little bit more laid back, but they work hard. They come to practice every day and it’s great to be outside during the spring. I’ve really enjoyed it, but it starts with just having good kids.”
He’s been with the Trojans since the fall of 2008. He describes the community and school district as supportive. “Really good people. Dr. Huisman who is our superintendent now, but was our principal, incredibly positive and very supportive. Chad Harder is our principal now and I get great support in the classroom. They let me try things, they let me fail. I’ve had a really nice group of co-workers.”
He’s enjoyed being a part of the basketball staff where he says they’ve been focused on the process and not so much on wins and losses even before that mentality became so widespread.
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)
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
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
Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center
