(Atlantic) After 13 years at the helm, Atlantic Head Archery Coach Clint Roland has decided to step down, citing a recent career change that demands more of his time. With that, Roland will be handing over the reins of the program that he has successfully guided for over a decade.
Roland’s tenure as coach is marked by impressive achievements. His 2016 high school team qualified for the state tournament, and his leadership saw the team secure seven top-ten finishes, including a state championship in 2022. That same year, Roland was honored as the Iowa NASP Coach of the Year. Throughout his 13 years, his high school teams collected 38 first-place finishes in regular-season tournaments and 45 second-place finishes.
In 3D archery, Roland’s teams also excelled, finishing in the top ten at the state tournament three times and winning 19 regular-season titles along with 12 runner-up finishes.
Roland’s influence extended to the middle school level as well, where his teams qualified for the State Bullseye Tournament in 2017 and earned three top-ten finishes. Additionally, his middle school teams claimed 35 first-place finishes and 28 second-place awards.
However, Coach Roland’s greatest pride comes from coaching a total of 224 academic archers over the years.
He attributes his success to the strong work ethic of his athletes, the supportive parents in the program, and the community’s backing.
When Roland first took over the program, he emphasized the importance of understanding one’s role, competing against oneself, and striving to be a better person every day. His leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on the program and the athletes he coached.
Among the top performers during Roland’s career are Cooper Jipsen, who leads with 1,211 tens, followed by Connor Johnson with 1,171 tens, Hank Roberts with 1,136, and Grant Petty, who heads into his senior year with 1,066 tens. Madeline Blake holds the record for the most tens by a female archer, with 1,005.
Roland also served as the Southwest Iowa Regional Basic Archery Instructor Trainer, further cementing his commitment to the sport and the development of future archery talent.
(Photo: L-R-Dent Petty, Clint Roland, and Rob Kirschner)
