A familiar face will be missing from the Decorah sidelines this football season.
After 37 years in the program, coach Joel Rollinger is hanging up his headphones. He’s stepping away from the gridiron but will remain with the school district as a teacher and head boys track coach.
Both sides of the ball
His career with the Vikings began in 1984. Literally minutes after taking a teaching position with Decorah Schools, Rollinger got a phone call from then-Decorah Head Football Coach Dick Wuest.
“I can still remember the phone call after I accepted the position to teach at Decorah from Coach Dick Wuest, asking about my background and the offense and defense we ran in high school. It was almost like an interview,” said Rollinger. “That really started my long relationship with Coach [Bill] Post. He and I started out as sophomore coaches together.”
Post and Rollinger continued to work together after Post became the co-head varsity coach with Dennis Olejniczak and later the sole head coach from 1999 through the 2017 season.
Following Post’s retirement, Rollinger served as the assistant coach for Pat Trewin. During his tenure, Rollinger coached both sides of the ball, working with quarterbacks, defensive backs and the special teams.
“Obviously all the relationships that I formed with all the coaching staffs since 1984 have been very memorable,” said Rollinger, who noted he’ll always cherish the bonds he created with the players. “I will miss those connections!
“The football success and championships have been a blast, but all the player relationships that you form over the years, those relationships are always special.”
For long-time co-coach Trewin, the feeling is mutual.
“Joel is an outstanding coach. His dedication to football, track and basketball over these many years are almost unheard of anymore. He is the same in the classroom. His work in both areas is as good as gold,” said Trewin. “If you look from the outside at Decorah’s success in football since he started, you can see his contributions to many championships. I would like to recognize the parts I have seen and from inside the program the most. Joel’s attention to detail in regard to the teaching of the fundamentals of the game are held in the highest regard by players and coaches. His enthusiasm, humor and loyalty to the program made coaching with him and playing for him a joy for me and appreciated by generations of players.
“He will be missed, but his legacy is way more than the wins and the championships, it is in the teaching he did, the relationships formed and in the growth of people he contributed to for 37 years, and not just 37 seasons.”
Stepping back
Rollinger said watching the next generation of coaches played a factor in his decision to step aside.
“We have a very nice, young coaching staff that really do outstanding work with our athletes. I thought it was good timing to step away from the program,” he said. “I thought it was a good transition time. I’m impressed with the football minds that we have in the program right now. These guys really know their Xs and Os and are outstanding with how they deal with kids.”
Cheering on the 2021 squad
Rollinger said he won’t stray too far from the program. While he doesn’t know where he’ll be sitting on game nights this year, he said he’s looking forward to watching the team from a different vantage point.
“It’s fun to be a part of that on Friday night, that competition and trying to get prepared to face the opponent. I’ll miss Friday nights. I’ll miss running out there with the team and seeing the excitement on Friday night,” he said. “I’m a Decorah Viking through and through, and I wish nothing but success to the players and coaches who are moving forward with the program.”
The Vikings open the season Friday, Aug. 27, at Crestwood.
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