By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan-Darien High School football team begins a new era behind the leadership of a familiar face tonight in a non-conference home match-up with Lodi.
D-DHS graduate and physical education and health teacher Hank Johnson has taken over the program.
“With the changes in the district recently, we wanted to hire a coach who was all in,” Athletic Director Guy Otte said. “He brings a wealth of experience in coaching including time at the university level.”
Otte said it was also important to hire someone with a good long-range plan. Being a D-DHS graduate and former player, Otte said it is important to Johnson to see the program succeed.
“The last few years we have had winning seasons, and I want to keep it going,” Johnson said, though the team dropped to 2-7 last year.
Johnson acknowledged feeling some motivation to succeed as a graduate of D-DHS.
“I want to make the community and school proud,” he said. “I want to keep it (the success) going and teach the kids lessons for life.”
More from the interview with Johnson, including his outlook on the season can be read in the Aug. 16 Delavan Enterprise.
