(Norwalk) This Friday’s Why I Coach podcast brings a visit with Cumberland-Massena graduate Aaron Pelzer.
Pelzer got his coaching start as a student assistant at Simpson where he played for four years. Eventually he moved on from the Storm and landed a spot on the Norwalk staff. “I thought college coaching was the route I wanted to go so I stayed involved at Simpson as an assistant coach and got a job at Norwalk working as a special education associate during the day and then I’d go coach at night. Evidently I did a decent enough job at that the principal asked me if I’d be willing to go back and get my special education endorsement.. At that point I was kind of tiring of the college recruiting and realizing the college route maybe wasn’t where I wanted to go. I’ve taught elementary special education for fifteen years and after my second year I started as an assistant basketball coach here in Norwalk and I’ve been here ever since.”
Pelzer played for his dad Steve in high school and naturally points to him as one of his biggest influences to become a coach. His favorite part of the coaching gig is being around kids, but he also loves the X’s and O’s of the game. Pelzer once had big dreams of being a head coach, but is very entrenched at Norwalk. “Years ago I was really, really pursuing a head coaching job. I still have aspirations to be a head coach and be in charge, but having kids kind of changed things for me. My kids are settled here and happy here. They are in love with the basketball program. I’m a huge supporter of coach Chris Larson and he and I have become really good friends over the years. When he does step down I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed to be strongly considered. I think being the head coach at Norwalk is probably my dream job if there is one. I’m not sure if I’d pursue it elsewhere at this time, but I’d be ready to jump at the opportunity should the Norwalk job come open.”
Pelzer and the Norwalk program have made three straight state tournament appearances and won the Class 3A State Championship this year.
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
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
