(Neola) Chad Harder was a multi-sport standout for the Walnut Warriors in the late 1990’s and helped lead the team to their only state basketball tournament appearance. After finishing his playing career at Dana he got a job as a teacher and coach at Tri-Center.
Harder is our Why I Coach podcast guest this week. For him, getting into coaching was an easy decision. “I wanted to do something with sports and kids so this was the logical coach. After playing basketball in college I really wanted to continue down this path so that’s why I got into coaching. I loved being around kids so it was a perfect match.”
Harder gained some familiarity with Tri-Center and specifically coach Carl Cochran from attending basketball camps there as a kid. He did his student teaching at Tri-Center and says he was fortunate to land right out of a college in a school district that was so similar to the one he grew up in at Walnut.
He says he’s tried to build his program on character and competitiveness. The relationships he’s built have been more powerful than he ever expected. “I guess I didn’t know I would fall in love with the kids as much as I do. Every year no matter what kind of year we’ve had it’s pretty emotional at the end. I wasn’t expecting that these kids would have as big of an impact as they’ve had on me and maybe more than I’ve had on them.”
Countless hours go into coaching, it’s not all fun and games, but coach Harder finds it all to be worthwhile. While all of the seasons have been memorable and enjoyable in one way or another, Harder notes the overall win total doesn’t necessarily define success. He spent four years as an assistant under Carl Cochran, which he calls four years of one of the best things that ever could’ve happened to him. He’s been the head coach for the past 12 seasons and also serves as the District’s High School Principal.
Previous Coaches
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
