After 28 years at Dakota Ridge High School, physical education teacher and head football coach Ron Woitalewicz (Coach Woj) has decided to retire at the end of this school year and spend more time with his wife. He’s ready to see what his life will look like after football.
Coach Woj started coaching at Dakota in 1996 as the offensive coordinator. In 1997, Woj left teaching at Alameda High School and became a full time coach and teacher at Dakota. After five years as the offensive coordinator, in 2001 Woj became the head coach of the football team and has been in that position ever since. He references 2004, the year they got second in state, as the big shift into what DRHS football is today.
“When I first took this job, we were 5A in football, and we were 3-7, 4-7,” Woj said. “So, I mean, it was a struggle because we just didn’t have the players and stuff to compete. Since 2004, we have had one losing season, and that was in 2011. Seeing growth, and seeing the numbers grow, the success, the fun, the family atmosphere, I mean, those are the things that I think have really built from 2004 on.”
Woj has been at Dakota for many years, which begs the question, why retire now? Woj states that there are many aspects leading to why this is the year. One reason is because his wife wants to travel, and with their grandson graduating this year, she does not have much interest in going to the games anymore.
“She wanted to travel and told me if I wanted to keep coaching she would support me 100%, and after she told me that, I thought I don’t want to be married to football, I want to be married to my wife,” Woj said. I don’t want to finish coaching football and go home and sit in an empty house because she’s out traveling. We’ve been married 33 years, and she’s given a lot, so it’s my time to kind of give back.”
Throughout Coach Woj’s time at Dakota, he has made a big impact on students as well as the athletes he has coached. He’s learned how to reach players differently and create a strong bond with many of those who come through the football program.
“Woj has taught the importance of always staying positive,”senior football player Connor Swanson said. “He’s always in a great mood, he’s always cracking jokes, he’s always spreading positivity to other people. (He shows) his care and his dedication to every single one of his players, no matter what level they are on. Whatever you’re going through, and whenever you need him, he’s there for you,”
Coach Woj says that one of his favorite moments in the time he’s spent at Dakota has to be in 2004 when they got to play in the state championship game. Although they lost, he just loves that they got the chance to play at that level. He is going to miss the kids, players, coaches, teachers, administrators, and secretaries, as they have become like best friends to him. He hopes his players learn many of the lessons he instills and takes those lessons with them throughout their lives.
“My big deal is no matter how many wins and stuff we have, when they graduate, they can go on and become great husbands or great fathers,” Woj said. “That people can count on them to understand what hard work is — always do the right thing. It doesn’t take any talent to do the right thing. You don’t have to be good, you don’t have to lift weights, you don’t have to be fast, but you can be a good person all the time.”
The search for a new head coach will begin in January, and the athletic director, Matt Heckel, will lead those interviews and the decision making. Woj reveals that one of the applicants will be current assistant coach Jeremiah Behrendsen.
“I’m looking for the same thing I look for when I look for teachers,”athletic director Matt Heckel said. I think I can teach them how to be a good teacher and classroom management, but I can’t teach them the love for the community and the love for our kids. That’s what I’m looking for is someone who has the passion, and knows the Dakota Ridge community, and knows what outstanding kids we have here.”
Coach Woj has had a great impact on the Dakota Ridge community and he will be missed by many. For 28 years he has been a consistent role model at Dakota, and although he is moving on, many of the students he taught and has coached will use the lessons they learned from him in their everyday lives.
