COACH: A man worth playing for

I would like to start this letter by saying that two seasons ago I was fortunate enough to work as a volunteer coach for the Vikings and Coach Leiss. I had previously been a teacher and coach for 19 years.

I have known Leiss for 30-some years. In my season as a volunteer coach I never witnessed anything that would be considered harassment or discipline that went outside of what is considered acceptable. Coach Leiss put in many, many, many hours outside of the school year teaching, mentoring and attempting to make each and every one of his players better not only as a player, but as a person and human being.

Coach Leiss is a very knowledgeable and committed person to both his job as a teacher and as a coach. He and each player have expectations they set at the beginning of the season that they want to achieve. This means both coach and his player have to put in a concerted effort for this to happen. Coach Leiss does push each player to achieve their potential as a player and a person. Nothing in life worth achieving has ever been achieved without a level of work and commitment.

Remember that the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. If I had a son, I would want Coach Leiss to teach and coach him.

SCOTT KECK

Dickinson, N.D.