Coach Duane Kaiser: 20 years since he retired

This fall will be the 20th anniversary of Duane Kaiser's final season as Northwest's head football coach.

I believe, although I don't have the records to prove it, that he is still the Mounties' winningest coach.

He was an old-school tough and passionate coach who led his teams with an almost militaristic approach to discipline.

His style wasn't for everybody. But I thought it was perfect for a group of 16- and 17-year-olds who were trying to restore some glory to a once-proud program (He was the team's coach in its hey day in the 1970s and then returned for a four-season run from 1986-89).

Below is a story I wrote for the high school paper, The Realtor, in December 1989 when word got out that he had coached his final game:

Thursday, Dec. 14, 1989

Long reign ends for N.W. football coach

By Mickey Ciokajlo

Yes, the rumor is true. Head Varsity football coach Duane Kaiser will not return to coach next year. The reasons why are not clear because Kaiser refused to be interviewed, saying he didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

His statement of resignation to the athletic director, Wayne McDonald, said it was effective November 14, and did not give a reason.

"His efforts will be missed greatly. In my 25 years at Northwest I've had numerous opportunities to observe hid dedication to sports from both vantage of fellow coach and athletic director; he will be missed," stated McDonald about Kaiser's resignation.

Kaiser began coaching at Northwest as an assistant to head coach Ray Newton in 1966. In 1968, he began a nine-year reign as head coach in which he boasted a 53-23-1 record. In six of those nine seasons he had either an 8-1 or 7-2 record making him by far the winningest coach in Northwest history. His feats included five Cascade conference championships.

When Kaiser returned 11 years later in 1986 to take hold of the Northwest football program, no one knew what to expect. Stories heard from the teachers and parents who remembered him told of his great records in the 1970's, and of his harsh coaching style. His first season was a winless one. But the next year he won three games, and in his final two years he showed winning records.

Kaiser's complete high school coaching career record in 13 seasons is 70-46-1. Being just one of the eight coaches that have coached at Northwest, Kaiser has won 59% of the school's total victories, which spans 33 seasons.

"Mr. Kaiser taught me to put 110% into everything I do," said junior running back Rick Rochefort, "but I think we need a younger man who can understand us more off the field."

"I learned a lot from him, and a lot of good stories too," said senior fullback/linebacker Tracey Lackey. Lackey added, "He cared about his players on and off the field."

Junior defensive end Scot Williams summed it up by saying, "I wish he was coaching next year because he's been the head coach ever since I started, and it's going to be my Senior year. Now everything's going to change with a new head coach."