SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — John Stiegelmeier was greater than a coach to the South Dakota State College Jackrabbits soccer workforce, he was household.
“Stig is on the prime of my record so far as mentors, you realize he’s had essentially the most affect on me personally, apart from my dad,” former security Conrad Kjerstad mentioned Friday over the cellphone.
Kjerstad was a Jackrabbit from 2006 via 2010 and like many SDSU gamers, he fashioned a long-lasting bond with the pinnacle coach who he describes as a “real good individual that basically cared about you as a human being.”
“He introduced the household facet of it extra so than I anticipated,” Kjerstad mentioned. “I by no means actually had that have via athletics till SDSU the place it was a household. And while you’re spending 80 or 100 hours every week with guys, you’re round for 4 or 5 years of your life– it’s your household.”
Stiegelmeier was the pinnacle of that household, Kjerstad defined, taking an curiosity in gamers past the sport and lengthy after they graduated. Kjerstad now lives in western South Dakota however he’s nonetheless in common contact with the coach. He was saddened to listen to of the information of the coach’s retirement forward of yesterday’s announcement.
“However then I do know Jimmy Rogers personally, performed with Jimmy Rogers,” Kjerstad mentioned. “A hundred percent respect for Jimmy Rogers; me and his final recreation was the identical recreation.”
Rogers, who performed for the Jackrabbits between 2005 and 2008, thanked Stiegelmeier Friday at a press convention asserting his transfer to move coach.
“Once I sat in his workplace 17 years in the past, as a participant, as a student-athlete… One of many first questions he requested was, ‘Why do you suppose you’re being recruited?’ and I gave him my response and his response was, ‘I don’t care, we imagine in you,’” Rogers recalled. “I might say these phrases modified my life.”
Religion, Household, Soccer
Former defensive again Dale Heiden was a Jackrabbit throughout Stiegelmeier’s transition from defensive coordinator to move coach.
“Even from day one he allowed the assistant coaches to teach and personal their respective duty,” Heiden mentioned. “He would transfer between the totally different place teams, and he was all the time taking notes. I don’t know when you’ve ever seen that with him on the sidelines even right this moment, Stig’s all the time taking notes.”
Heiden and Kjerstad are each members of the Jackrabbit Former Gamers Affiliation and are in common contact with different Jackrabbits, in addition to Stiegelmeier himself. It’s a relationship that hasn’t been impacted by time or distance.
Jazzmine Jackson: Do you suppose his teaching fashion, particularly the emphasis on religion and household values, lends itself to such a robust former gamers affiliation?
Heiden: I feel that completely. Ryan McKnight referred to it as ‘The Brotherhood’ and I imply that locker room carries exterior of soccer and into life, too.
Heiden added that he finds himself nonetheless using the teachings Stiegelmeier taught him greater than 20 years in the past in his private {and professional} life.
“You’ve heard it in all probability one million occasions however as you realize, make a distinction and be a distinction maker,” Heiden mentioned. “And I feel that that could be a that’s a working worth that which is instilled within the soccer workforce.”
Heiden recalled one occasion of Stiegelmeier being that distinction maker that he preached to the workforce.
“We had a participant that was below some kind of monetary hardship; he was a scholarship participant however was having some monetary challenges at dwelling,” Heiden mentioned. “And Stig made positive that participant acquired some further assist going into the second semester… These are impactful moments that he didn’t should do something with that, and he did.”
Kjerstad remembers the coach as somebody who didn’t curse and didn’t lose his cool, He appears to be like again on his time taking part in for the Jackrabbits with gratitude.
“You understand, while you’re a school child, you would possibly suppose that’s a little bit quirky to start with, however anyone that carries themselves with that a lot self-discipline and exhibiting that, you realize, you don’t actually need to do these issues,” Kjerstad mentioned. “You would possibly suppose it’s uncool to start with, however by the top you’re really suppose it’s sort of particular possibly.”
The impression Stiegelmeier has on Kjerstad extends to his personal kids as effectively along with his son bearing the legendary coach’s title.