Photo courtesy of Mike Oeffner/Harlan Newspapers
(Harlan) Todd Bladt has followed in the footsteps of a legend to become the Harlan head football coach and that legendary mentor just so happens to be his father. Todd Bladt provides details of his own coaching journey on this week’s Why I Coach podcast.
He’s been around coaching since he was a kid and has been in contact with a lot of great people involved in coaching. He specifically lists Bob Jensen, Tom Casey, and his dad Curt Bladt who coached him in the Shrine Bowl. “It was a great experience for me and I saw how you could influence people and the good things you could do with kids. That’s what initially got me interested in the coaching field. Through a lot of being with my dad and seeing different people and how they could influence people interested me.”
His first significant coaching experience came when he was still a senior in college while working as a graduate assistant. He was almost immediately hooked. “I really enjoyed it. I liked the strategy and the concepts and influencing kids in a positive manor. I was 23 at the time and a lot of the players were 18-year-olds. It was kind of eye opening for me and I think at that time I knew I’d made the right decision in pursuing it.”
He says coaching has allowed him to be around great people, influence great people, and network with great people all in a fun environment. Growing up with his dad as the head coach of one of the state’s most successful programs had plenty of benefits, like learning what it takes to build a successful program. “Number one you have to surround yourself with great people and we have that here. I remember so many years sitting around with my dad and the coaching staff when they got together and the laughs they would have. It was kind of what made that group so special is they were able to stay together for so long and enjoy friendships.”
Previous Coaches
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Chad Harder, (Walnut Grad) Tri-Center
Kevin Suhr, (Walnut Grad) Blue Valley High School, KS
