Hall of Fame Coach Roger Lipelt Brings A Winning Season to Providence Academy

(October 1^st, 2008) – The Providence Academy Lions are off and running this season with a 4-1 record.  Under the leadership of Hall of Fame Coach Roger Lipelt, the young Providence program is achieving early success.  After an early career as an assistant for Owatonna High School, Lipelt earned Head Coaching positions at West Concord and Worthington High Schools.  He joined Wayzata HS as the Trojans Head Coach in 1976.  By building the Trojans’ team, he produced a winning record which spanned his 22 years with Wayzata.  It was following his 1998 retirement that Lipelt was named to the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

Coaxed out of retirement in 2004, Lipelt was hired by Providence Academy to launch the Lion’s football program.  When asked what Lipelt brought to the program, Athletic Director Kurt Jaeger offered without hesitation that Coach Lipelt was chosen because of his experience and desire to build a new program.  His winning record and Hall of Fame coaching honors made him an easy choice from a credentials standpoint.  “But all this aside, Coach made it very clear that he was a builder, and that building a winning team was secondary to his priority of building young men of character,” Jaeger said.  “Coach Lipelts sentiments were very appealing as PA started its new program.  His words touched on the fundamentals of Providence Academy’s mission which is grounded in character and virtue.”  Whether working on sportsmanship or service to the community through team involvement in projects like Huts For Homes, Coach has stayed true to these words.

"I was thrilled and excited to be asked to be part of the Providence Academy family in 2004," said Lipelt.  "To be able to experience the growth of a new program in a new school is a rare opportunity."  The opportunity has produced excellent results.  With only 30 young men on the roster in the first season the Lions built knowledge and skill at the junior varsity level. 

Moving up to the varsity level of play in their second season the Lions’ wins were limited while competing in the established Gopher Valley Conference.  Successive years produced a few more wins and offered a lot of experience.  This season the Lions boast a roster of over 50 and a 4-1 winning record in the newly reorganized MCAA conference.  Jaeger credits the rapid growth and winning record to hard off-season training by players and Lipelt’s coaching.  “Roger Lipelt is exactly who he said he was when we were interviewing for the position in the spring of 2004.  He is a man that has dedicated his life to teaching and coaching.  He is a builder in every sense of the word.”

Lipelt shares credit during this transitional year with Co-Head Coach Nate Harrington, a successful former head coach for The Blake School, as well as with a talented line-up of assistants.  During the current season the Lion’s have taken charge of the gridiron posting wins against New Life Academy 28-20, St Agnes 43-12, West Lutheran 46-7 and St. Johns Prep 61-0.  Senior Caleb Scherber plays running back for the Lions.  In his fourth year under Lipelt’s instruction he knows that a winning season is all about the team.  “Coach has taught us how to be a team.  He has inspired us to become better, shown us how to play with intensity and built our team unity.  That’s what has made the difference.  Four years ago we were playing as individuals, now we play as a team.”

Lipelt’s passion for football is never far from the surface and is evident in his undying enthusiasm and love of the sport.  Assistant Coach and member of the Providence faculty Adam Schmalzbauer summarized what Lipelt has accomplished.  “Coach came in four seasons ago with a goal.  He worked to achieve it, and while doing so taught me and all who coached with him or played for him about commitment, friendship, character and what it means to love this game.”  Mike McGrath, a Providence Academy senior and Lion’s tight end commented after reflecting, “Coach loves this sport.  He’s been with it for so long, and every year his love and excitement for football deepens.  We all see it.”

As Homecoming approaches and excitement over the Lions’ numerous wins grows, fans and players alike know that Coach Lipelt has brought a winning season to Providence Academy’s football program.  He has given his team, coaching staff, faculty and friends a new understanding of strength, drive and determination.  He has taken boys and helped them grow into young men of character.  He’s instilled in them that service to others and their actions off the field are a priority, and that a passion and love of the game is always with you, win or lose.

Under the leadership of Hall of Fame Coach Roger Lipelt, the young Providence Academy football program is achieving early success with a 4-1 record.

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