Mike Whisner – ADM Football Coach and Educator

This month we spoke to Football Coach Mike Whisner about the spirit of coaching and the importance role sports plays within the ADM school district.

Coach Mike Whisner

Fall is here, there is a nip in the air, and it is time for the first Adel DeSoto Minburn Football game!

This September we embrace the time honored traditions of tailgating, homecoming, and cheering for the ADM Tigers.

Coach Mike Whisner is well known to ADM. As a student of Adel High School, Class of 1976, Mike was part of the ‘75 undefeated season in conference play and State Champion finalists.

After graduation, Coach played football at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. For the past 24 years, Mike has been the Head Football coach for ADM.

“After graduating college I came back and was an assistant coach for one year and a substitute teacher in the district. In 1981, I was the coach for Lincoln Center- McGruber. We were an 11-man team for the first time, which was a neat experience to turn the team around. I taught elementary Physical Education and middle school Math. In 1982, I came back to Adel and started teaching Earth & Life Sciences in the middle school for 2 years. I’ve coached baseball, UNI basketball, wrestling, Girls’ basketball and track also. Since then, I have been in Physical Education, 7th-12th grades.”

As a Coach and Educator, Mike Whisner’s goal is to help prepare ADM students for the future. Involvement in sports help students learn the power of winning, how to cope with defeat, the skills to work together as team players, and provide the foundations of health and wellness.

Coach Whisner is proud to share these responsibilities and rewards with his assistant coaching staff. As a young coach, Whisner tried to do everything himself. Over the years, “Whiz” has developed a program that encourages the whole team to develop a sense of ownership and pride. Each assistant coach has a niche to call their own, and a responsibility to those players.

“My assistants are a major part of why we are successful. This year I have 8 assistants: Steve Stanley- Offense Coordinator, Bric Nelson-Defense Coordinator, Tyler Bohlke-JV Offense Coordinator, Mark McCartney- Running Backs, Wyatt Speiker- Offensive and Defensive Linemen, Cory Thompson- Defensive Linemen , Alex Reams and Adam Crannell- Defensive Backs.”

“We’ve become more and more successful because the assistant coaches have taken ownership of the program. As you go through life and go through coaching, you have a lot of mini successes and everyday you have some mini failures. That is what shapes you and molds you and how you keep working to be successful. I think the biggest key was to share with all my coaches that responsibility and those successes.”

“We have to ask ourselves: did you do all the things you needed to do? If you did, and the other team still won, you take that and go from there. If you weren’t successful and maybe you didn’t do some things well, you take that and try to do better. You try to relate it to life- its not the end of the world, we can be better, let’s work on it.”

Senior students are looked to as mentors for the underclassmen. Each year at the start of the season, Whisner gathers the seniors for leadership activities.

During the get-together Coach talks about how to treat others and show respect for the team.

Each year, the seniors identify things to focus on during the season- the list cannot focus on scores or beating a rival team.

The list has to focus on things the students could do as a group to make the most of the season.

“This is a reflection on the kids- this is what they want for the team. This year’s list: Be a family, be positive, have a memorable year, be physical, be accountable, communicate, play with passion and pride, have each other’s back. Very unselfish goals-things you would want as a parent. These are all acceptable things they can do as a team.”

Over the past 2 years, educators and school administrators have researched and discussed addressing the needs of the growing school district.

Playing fields require upkeep and upgrades, prompting the committee to recommend laying a new track and turf for the football field which is used during PE classes, Soccer season, Track and Field events, and Football season.

“I think when you look at ADM football you have a representation of a community that does things right to help their kids be successful.