Winning is music to his ears
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, September 09, 2007
Coach Mike Tiedman, of the Schaller-Crestland Wildcats, celebrates with his team Friday in the school shop following the Wildcats' 6-0 overtime victory over West Bend-Mallard. (Staff photo by Tim Gallagher)
EARLY, Iowa n- The musician-turned-coach at Schaller-Crestland High School better study the words to one important song in the next few weeks.
The school fight song!
"I don't know the words to it," said Mike Tiedeman, explaining his look of bewilderment as his Wildcats broke into song following their 6-0 overtime victory here over West Bend-Mallard Friday night. "I didn't know the kids sang their song after a win."
He does now.
How ironic that the only misstep Tiedeman had Friday night involved music. This is a guy who, until a few weeks ago, was playing guitar and singing for a living in Des Moines. How he got to Early should be ahem noted.
The background
Dale Tokheim, the longtime head coach at Schaller-Crestland, is also a first sergeant E8 for the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery Iowa Amy National Guard based in Estherville. In March he learned his unit would deploy this year on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
While his fellow middle school teachers decided to cover his social studies classes in his absence, he was asked to help recruit an interim head coach. "I always put on a men's basketball tournament in April and Mike (Tiedeman) came to play in it," said Tokheim, who attended Friday's game during a five-day leave of absence before leaving for Kosovo. "I asked Mike what he was doing."
Tiedeman, who played four sports at Simpson College, hadn't been doing much since leaving accounting job at Principal Financial in Des Moines last year.
"I knew the job wasn't for me," said Tiedeman, who starred for nearby Newell-Fonda High School as a prep. "I worked there for two years and gave my two weeks notice without having any else lined up."
He was 24 and without a job. So, naturally, he began playing his guitar for small crowds. Soon, he landed some gigs. Before long he was playing up to four nights per week around Des Moines and paying the rent.
That's when Tokheim asked him about coaching. Tiedeman accepted the offer that day. The job would require him to obtain a coaching certificate, which he did. It would also pay a grand total of $3,085. He moved home to live with parents Bill and Jeanne Tiedeman at nearby Fonda.
"I tell people I'm living my retired life right now," Tiedeman said. "I know there's a job out there waiting for me when I need it."
"The war is affecting everyone in strange ways," said S-C Superintendent Dave Kwikkel. "I hoped like heck we could find a coach and then here's this kid who comes out of the blue to help us out."
Tiedeman staffs the weight facility each morning. He then heads home to play guitar and comes back to direct practice along with assistants Doug Davidson, Brandon Turnquist and Jeff DeHaan.
The job is especially difficult at Schaller-Crestland this fall as the team deals with the tragic deaths of three players who were killed in a car accident last April while on their way to lift weights. Anthony Clark, Cody Claussen and Samuel Collier remain on the minds of their teammates, many who broke into tears following the dramatic victory Friday.
"I think every week the healing process gets a little better for the kids," said Tokheim while watching the game from the crow's nest Friday. "Last week we had our first game and that was a step in the process. They'll adapt over time, but it's still very hard to talk about."
Winning the home opener in dramatic fashion should help. The program that was due for a break got one when Justin Ronk scooted around left end for the only score of the game. The Wildcats erupted in joy when the final West Bend-Mallard fell incomplete, preserving the Schaller-Crestland triumph.
According to Tokheim, it's the first time Schaller-Crestland has defeated perennial state power West Bend-Mallard.
The victory was a wonderful send-off for Tokheim, who will likely be in Kosovo at this time next week. The win was also a huge step forward for a determined bunch of gridders from Schaller-Crestland.
And for the new coach? It showed him he needs to get with the program. And learn the darn school song!
The school fight song!
"I don't know the words to it," said Mike Tiedeman, explaining his look of bewilderment as his Wildcats broke into song following their 6-0 overtime victory here over West Bend-Mallard Friday night. "I didn't know the kids sang their song after a win."
He does now.
How ironic that the only misstep Tiedeman had Friday night involved music. This is a guy who, until a few weeks ago, was playing guitar and singing for a living in Des Moines. How he got to Early should be ahem noted.
The background
Dale Tokheim, the longtime head coach at Schaller-Crestland, is also a first sergeant E8 for the 1st Battalion 194th Field Artillery Iowa Amy National Guard based in Estherville. In March he learned his unit would deploy this year on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
While his fellow middle school teachers decided to cover his social studies classes in his absence, he was asked to help recruit an interim head coach. "I always put on a men's basketball tournament in April and Mike (Tiedeman) came to play in it," said Tokheim, who attended Friday's game during a five-day leave of absence before leaving for Kosovo. "I asked Mike what he was doing."
Tiedeman, who played four sports at Simpson College, hadn't been doing much since leaving accounting job at Principal Financial in Des Moines last year.
"I knew the job wasn't for me," said Tiedeman, who starred for nearby Newell-Fonda High School as a prep. "I worked there for two years and gave my two weeks notice without having any else lined up."
He was 24 and without a job. So, naturally, he began playing his guitar for small crowds. Soon, he landed some gigs. Before long he was playing up to four nights per week around Des Moines and paying the rent.
That's when Tokheim asked him about coaching. Tiedeman accepted the offer that day. The job would require him to obtain a coaching certificate, which he did. It would also pay a grand total of $3,085. He moved home to live with parents Bill and Jeanne Tiedeman at nearby Fonda.
"I tell people I'm living my retired life right now," Tiedeman said. "I know there's a job out there waiting for me when I need it."
"The war is affecting everyone in strange ways," said S-C Superintendent Dave Kwikkel. "I hoped like heck we could find a coach and then here's this kid who comes out of the blue to help us out."
Tiedeman staffs the weight facility each morning. He then heads home to play guitar and comes back to direct practice along with assistants Doug Davidson, Brandon Turnquist and Jeff DeHaan.
The job is especially difficult at Schaller-Crestland this fall as the team deals with the tragic deaths of three players who were killed in a car accident last April while on their way to lift weights. Anthony Clark, Cody Claussen and Samuel Collier remain on the minds of their teammates, many who broke into tears following the dramatic victory Friday.
"I think every week the healing process gets a little better for the kids," said Tokheim while watching the game from the crow's nest Friday. "Last week we had our first game and that was a step in the process. They'll adapt over time, but it's still very hard to talk about."
Winning the home opener in dramatic fashion should help. The program that was due for a break got one when Justin Ronk scooted around left end for the only score of the game. The Wildcats erupted in joy when the final West Bend-Mallard fell incomplete, preserving the Schaller-Crestland triumph.
According to Tokheim, it's the first time Schaller-Crestland has defeated perennial state power West Bend-Mallard.
The victory was a wonderful send-off for Tokheim, who will likely be in Kosovo at this time next week. The win was also a huge step forward for a determined bunch of gridders from Schaller-Crestland.
And for the new coach? It showed him he needs to get with the program. And learn the darn school song!
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