By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
It’s official.
The rumors are true.
Burlington’s own, Steve Tenhagen, is coming home.
A March 6 article in the Burlington Standard Press that named Tenhagen as the leading candidate for the Burlington High School varsity football head coaching position became more than just talk March 10.
The Burlington Area School Board unanimously approved the hire of the former Delavan-Darien head coach, who spent the last seven seasons as the head man for the Comets.
Starting in the fall, Tenhagen will become a full-time health teacher at Burlington High School, and he will also work with the district’s ARROW program, which identifies students at risk for graduation and utilizes online credit programming.
For Tenhagen, a 1997 BHS graduate and former football star, family played a big role in his decision.
“Burlington is my hometown and I have many family members and close friends who reside in Burlington,” he said Tuesday night. “My wife and I look forward to raising our family in Burlington with our siblings and their families, my parents and our close friends. It has been a dream of mine to coach in the program I was fortunate enough to play in.”
Tenhagen said it wasn’t easy to leave Delavan. He developed plenty of close relationships, and he credited the school for helping his progression as a teacher and coach.
“I have been fortunate to teach and coach at a great school at Delavan-Darien High School,” he said. “Deciding to apply for the Burlington job was a very tough decision because of the great people I have worked with. I will forever cherish the years I have had in Delavan. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me to get me where I am today.”
Last year, several Demons football players expressed concern with the team’s offseason commitment in the weight room.
Tenhagen, whose trademark is an explosive offense, could be the young, fresh face needed to reinvigorate the offseason culture.
“The goal of the Burlington program and any program I have been a part of is to develop our student-athletes to be successful in all aspects of life,” Tenhagen said. “We will teach the qualities that assist them in this process. I have been fortunate to play for coaches that have helped me in this process, and I will provide our athletes with this same leadership.”
Burlington has qualified for the WIAA playoffs once (2012) since 2006, and last year ended with a 4-5 record after a 3-0 start.
Tenhagen wants to field a strong team year in and year out.
“Our goal is to be competitive in the Southern Lakes Conference every year,” he said. “We will assemble a staff that has the philosophy of developing quality young men who want to compete to be successful. Our goal, like any program, is to win conference championships and advance into the playoffs.”
The search to replace former Burlington coach Hans Block began December 12, when Block stepped down after 12 years.
According to Burlington High School Athletic Director Eric Plitzuweit, 47 candidates applied for the vacant coaching position, and 25 were current or former head coaches.
At the end of the day, Plitzuweit and the school felt Tenhagen was the best man for the job.
“Coach Tenhagen emerged as the candidate that will best be able to lead Burlington football in the future,” Plitzuweit said. “He is a dynamic coach that will lead our program moving forward. As a former Burlington High School football player, he understands the passion that many have in the Burlington football community.”
Plitzuweit went on to praise Tenhagen’s character and his relationships with students.
“Coach Tenhagen is a man of high character, exhibits a strong work ethic and has the ability to motivate our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom,” Plitzuweit said. “He is a respected coach known for his great relationships with his student-athletes and the professionalism in which he works with his staff and students.”
Tenhagen compiled a 33-36 overall record in seven seasons at DDHS from 2007-13. The last winning season was 2010, when the Comets finished 11-2 and won the Southern Lakes Conference.
As a player, Tenhagen was a first-team all-state wide receiver as a senior at Burlington in 1996, with 56 catches for 934 yards and 14 touchdowns. He went on to become an all-conference tight end at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he is the fifth-leading receiver all time in terms of yards.
At BHS, Tenhagen was part of a powerful air attack. On the other end was current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.
In 1996, Romo’s junior season, Burlington won the Southern Lakes Conference title, went 9-3 after a 0-2 start and advanced to the third round of the playoffs.
In his 12 years at the helm, Block was 59-56, with four trips to the playoffs – two past the first round.
