Hertel knows Concordia well
Dale Hertel is back with the Concordia football program. He is home again.

Twenty-six years after graduating from the school where he was a two-time all-conference quarterback and the conference MVP his senior year, Hertel has returned to Concordia this fall as an assistant on coach Jim Christopherson’s staff.

He chatted with some members of the media Tuesday at the Concordia football team’s media day. "Home" is a word Hertel uttered more than once.

"I’m an old Cobber so this is like going home for me. This place hasn’t changed that much. It’s still the same attitude, still the same approach. This is a great place to play football," he said.

Hertel is about as well-known as an ex-high school football coach can be in this area. Building Fargo South into the state’s premier football program – going 183-41 and winning eight state championships in 21 years – will do that to a person’s name recognition. Hertel is a living legend.

But he closed the book on the Bruin chapter of his life last spring (though he remains a teacher at South) when he decided to leave the school and replace longtime Cobber assistant Al Rice, who retired. It was a move Hertel had in the back of his mind for a long time.

"I wanted to try coaching at a Division III collegiate football program and Concordia would be the perfect place to do that," said Hertel, standing on the Jake Christensen Stadium turf watching the Cobbers run through some simple drills. "This level of athlete is here to get an education and yet they have a passion for football. They’re playing because they enjoy it and I enjoy coaching them. I know that football is not the most important thing in their lives and I think they know that football is not the most important thing in my life."

Notice how Hertel made a distinction about coaching at an NCAA Division III school, with no scholarships and a lower emphasis on athletics.

"Division I and Division II are completely different," Hertel said. "At Division II, if you win you can’t stay and if you lose you can’t stay. It’s a stepping stone. You are always trying to move up. ... This level fills the need you have for the passion of the game. There are plenty of challenges right here."

Hertel is the defensive line coach for the Cobbers, quite a different job description than he had at South. He was known as the offensive mastermind of the Bruins, though he did coach the defensive ends.

"The biggest difference for me right now is being on the other side of the ball and not having any say in what goes on offensively," Hertel said. "Not being the head coach there is less overall responsibility. It’s definitely a different perspective, but I like it."

Hertel will still get a perspective on the South program because one of his sons, Jason, will be a sophomore with the Bruins. Another son, Jeff, is a freshman quarterback for the Cobbers who is No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Ethan Pole and backup Troy Wanless.

"Since I’m with the defense, I really don’t have anything to do with him. He’s just another player – except that I have to pay for his tuition," Hertel said.

Joking aside, Hertel likes the family atmosphere at Concordia. Many of the names are familiar, even from the days when Hertel played in 1968-70. Christopherson is still the coach. Offensive coordinator Bob Nick, quarterback of the 1964 Cobber national championship team, is in his 31st year at Concordia. Even some of the players have connections to Hertel’s time at the school.

"I played ball with many of the fathers of the athletes here. The dads of some of these kids were my teammates. Like I said, it hasn’t changed much," Hertel said.

Welcome home, coach.

1997 Cobber Football

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