This past Thursday, Garden City Community College (GCCC) welcomed the 25th Head Football Coach in GCCC history, Tony Koehling. While on the hunt for a new head coach, the Garden City Athletic Department had a few things in mind before fully offering someone the job. The requirements they were looking for were someone who drives student success in the classroom, field and community. This needed to be someone who serves leadership in every aspect possible, serving as a role model for these young men.
“Leadership is not a title; it’s a behavior,” Mike Pilosof added while touching on how they came to choose Koehling as the new football coach.
Koehling is well qualified for the job, having coached in Four National Championship games, calling plays for both Iowa Western and Hutchinson Community College, who have both won titles, coached under four Hall of Fame coaches and worked for two of the most successful coaches in Juco history. Koehling went on to give recognition to Garin Higgins, Head Coach at Emporia State University, from whom he learned a lot from and helped him build relationships in Kansas.
“Junior college football is the last pure form of football. It’s all about development, opportunity and relationships,” Koehling, said. He projected excitement and eagerness to be a part of this new team of coaches, players and the Garden City community as a whole.
“It’s all about great people. The structure and support system is what sets the ceiling for success,” Koehling added, proving that he is ready to take on the challenge.
The mindset and culture are particularly important to him, motivating these men to have a winning mentality in everything they do.
Koehling touched on this mentality and his coaching style, “Attack every single day, starting yesterday with a playoff mentality; winning everything we do on and off the field, keeping the win one more mentality. Don’t skip details, it’s all about the process,” he finished.
The GCCC football team will be in action starting with their spring scrimmages, which will be open to the public.
“I look forward to giving you all something to be proud of in Garden City,” Koehling finally declared.
Be sure to check out this team; you won’t want to miss it!
