“Why I Coach” with Adair-Casey’s Chris Bireline

(Adair) Former Adair-Casey football and baseball coach Chris Bireline joins the Why I Coach series.

As Adair-Casey merged with Guthrie Center he traded in the whistle for the microphone as KSOM’s lead football analyst. Bireline was an assistant under Wade Anderson before becoming the head football coach. “His brain is always on the go. He’s always thinking of something new. He always has plays in the back of his head and is always making adjustments throughout the game. He taught me you have be proactive and open ideas. You can’t just get locked in your ways.”

Others he learned a lot from include Ron Peck and Scott Frohlich. “Coach Peck he’s a legend in Iowa coaching history. You want to talk about a guy that always had ideas going through his head, he was a unique individual. He was a fun guy to be around. If you weren’t open minded around him you were going to struggle. He was bouncing every idea off of you including the kitchen sink. He was definitely an influence towards my coaching career.”

The final chapters of Bireline’s coaching story likely haven’t been written. There’s a little bit of temptation from time to time. In the past I’ve had some people reach out to me and ask me if I’d have any interest and at this time I’m not exactly looking to get back into it, but as I get older and the days go on the itch does get stronger and stronger to get back in there.” Bireline says, “It’s always there that it would be great to lead a team and watch kids build and get better day in and day out and have some success.”

Without a doubt he says it’s not about the wins or losses, the funnest part is being around the kids and the relationships you build. “They kind of become like your kids. Just being around them everyday you get that relationship and it keeps you young at heart. You’re around kids living their best lives and it’s contagious. It rubs off on you and brings your mood up. It’s fun to get out there and be around the kids who love what they are doing.”

Previous Coaches

(Click to listen)

Colin Shawgo, ACGC

Cody Matthewson, ACGC

Shawn Danker, ACGC

Cory Bartz, Adair-Casey

John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum

Wade Anderson, Adair-Casey

Chris Bireline, 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

Bruce Henderson, Atlantic

Bob Younger, Atlantic

Alan Jenkins, Atlantic

Dan Vargason, Atlantic

Terry Hinzmann, Atlantic

Don Jenkins, Atlantic

Lynn Barnes, Atlantic

Kathy Hobson, Atlantic

Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)

Dean Kiger, Audubon

Jim Willet, Audubon and Anita

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

Steve Dvorak, Audubon

Pete Dammel, Audubon

Tony Vis, Audubon and Harlan

Blane Kerkhoff, Audubon

Frank Howell, Audubon

Bud Legg, Anita Native

Brian Wedemeyer, Anita Native

Gene Johnson, Anita native

Mark Erickson, C&M graduate

Lynn Johnson, Anita and CAM

Todd Russell, CAM

Sandy Booker, CAM

Barry Bower, CAM

Dean Downer, CAM

Lance Lage, CAM

Joe Wollum, CAM

Dan Daugherty, CAM

Larry Hunt, CAM

Aaron Pelzer, C&M/Norwalk

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

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

Steve Baier, Griswold

Jane Chaillie, Griswold

Troy Nicklaus, Griswold

Marc Bierbaum, Griswold grad and Iowa Western track/cross country assistant

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

Steve Smith, Guthrie Center

Brent Meier, Guthrie Center

Curt Schulte, Harlan graduate (Glenwood)

Todd Bladt, Harlan

Ken Carstens, Harlan

Mitch Osborn, Harlan

Doug Renkly, Harlan

Randy Bissen, Harlan

Steve Daeges, Harlan

Joel Osborn, Harlan

John Murtaugh, Harlan

Zach Klaassen, 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

Paul Bullock, Riverside

Mitch Anderson, Riverside

Darrell Frain, Riverside

Jason Shelangouski, Riverside

Burke Swenson, Riverside

Jared Hoffman, Riverside

Casey Conover, Riverside

Alex Oliver, Riverside

Gary Wax, Riverside

Nick Kroon, Riverside

Chris Conover, Riverside

Frank Schnoes, Shelby-Tennant

Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center

Jason Book, (Walnut grad) ADM

Josh Abel, (Walnut grad), Tri-Center

Bob Gross, Walnut

Denny Book, Walnut

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

Jeff Koenck-Walnut, Griswold, and Treynor