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McCook H.S. grad finds dream job almost by accident
Don't expect to see a former McCook High School athlete attending school events wearing Bison school colors.
While Nate Neuhaus still holds McCook and the Bison athletic programs dear to his heart, his current job doesn't allow cheering for his alma mater's teams.
Neuhaus is in his third year working as an Assistant Director for the Nebraska School Activities Association. The NSAA is the governing body that oversees all high school athletics and activities in the Cornhusker State. Neuhaus, a 1994 McCook High graduate, is in charge of the sports of football and track and field for the NSAA.
Nate took timeout from his duties presenting Class D medals at the state wrestling meet in Omaha last month to chat about his job, his career and fond memories of McCook High School.
The former Bison football and track athlete more or less stumbled into his relatively new employment after years teaching and coaching football.
Following high school graduation, Neuhaus played football at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The education major took a job teaching middle school physical education and health in the Columbus school system after graduating from UNK. Two years later, he returned to Kearney as a graduate assistant coach for the Lopers.
After four years on the UNK football staff, Neuhaus earned a Master's degree and joined the University of Nebraska-Omaha football staff as a defensive secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Seven years later, Nate decided to get out of coaching, "to try something different," he said. The UNO football and wrestling programs were cut the following spring as the school jumped up to NCAA Division 1.
"I tried a couple different things, wasn't sure what I was going to do," Nate said after he left UNO. "I was going to get back into coaching. Then this opportunity (NSAA) presented itself, and I'm fortunate to be where I'm at."
NATE'S PARENTS still live in McCook. Nate said most people wouldn't know dad's real name. Darwin Neuhaus -- Dob or Dobber, as he's more affectionately known around town -- works for the City of McCook . The elder Neuhaus is pretty easy to spot most of the time -- he's the gentlemen usually wearing a UNO jacket and ball cap.
Mom Kay is a retired McCook school teacher.
"She's a sweetheart," her older son said. "She taught school for 30 years."
Craig Neuhaus also excelled in Bison athletics. Craig followed older brother's footsteps and played football at UNK. Nate said his brother currently resides in Omaha working in marketing and sales.
"Very successful," Nate said of his sibling.
Craig Neuhaus has family bragging rights when it comes to speed. Both Neuhaus boys ran the sprint events on the Bison track team. Craig is tied for third on the all-time McCook boys 100-meter dash chart with his 10.7-second clocking at the 1997 district meet. Craig also ranks third on the Bison 200-meter dash chart at 21.9 seconds at the 1996 district meet.
Where's Nate on the Bison top 10 track charts?
"I'm nowhere near it," he said.
NATE PLAYED football for the Bison under former head coach Greg Welch. Veteran McCook football and track assistant coach John Gumb was the head track coach during Nate's prep career.
Neuhaus said the Bison were undefeated during the regular season during his junior and senior football campaigns in 1992 and 1993. Neuhaus said those Bison teams were the odds-on favorites to win back-to-back state titles. But McCook lost in the playoff quarterfinals both years.
Neuhaus said the main responsibilities of his NSAA Assistant Director position is to oversee football and track officials, set football schedules and managing playoffs. He is also the meet director for the state track meet at Omaha Burke Stadium each May..
"At the state track meet, I work hand-in-hand with (Omaha Public Schools) and Bob Danenhauer and those people," Nate said.
NEUHAUS HAS to remain impartial when McCook teams are competing at state events.
"You always want to see your alma mater do well, but I do have a job to do," Neuhaus said, "so I can't let my McCook ties influence any of the decisions that I make. And It doesn't. You certainly like to see McCook do well.
"McCook's home -- I try to get back as much as I can. There are a lot of old teachers and friends and family that I get to come back and see in McCook. So I enjoy coming back."
Neuhaus has one big reason to return home often.
"Got to eat at Mac's, Mac's Drive-In," he said. "Mom never has to cook when I come back -- I just go to Mac's two times a day."
The former Bison athlete said when he was younger he never really thought about working for the NSAA.
"In fact, two or three weeks before I applied for the job, I really didn't think this was something that I would ever do," Neuhaus said. "You learn a lot about what the NSAA does being in the position. When I knew the position came open, I spoke to Larry Mollring and Tom Millsap, the two gentlemen who had retired, and obviously Larry's ties to McCook. I had a good understanding of what the job entailed going into it. No, didn't see it coming, but I'm glad it did."
NEUHAUS SAID his job with the state high school association is very rewarding.
"You don't suffer the ups and downs like you do in coaching -- when you get a big win or you suffer a devastating loss, you're up and down a lot. This is a little more stable," he said. "I get to be involved with all the activities and athletics across the state. This is a fantastic job. I certainly landed on my feet and I'm fortunate to be here.
"The interesting part about the NSAA is there's a lot of people involved in putting on these type of (state) events. They go above and beyond what the NSAA does. We're fortunate to have a lot of quality volunteers, a lot of people that want to see high school activities and athletics prosper."
The NSAA chain of command consists of the executive director, associate director, then Neuhaus and five other assistant directors who collaborate in a team effort, Neuhaus said. Nate said his work goes on year-round.
"You're always preparing for the next season to start, then you're managing the season while it's going on, and then you're preparing for your championship event.
"Then you're kind of tying up loose ends and having meetings -- you want to make sure you make changes and do the right thing, so you're constantly evolving your sport, making it better for the athletes each year. It's very rewarding."
And its not just athletics.
"We're in all (high school) activities. You get to go see state play production and state speech and those things I haven't been involved with throughout my career," he said. "But now I'm in part of this and I get to see it. Watching kids compete and succeed and come together as a team, it's very fun to see that."
Neuhaus, who is single, was asked if this job could ever give way to a return to coaching?
"I don't have any plans to leave. I enjoy it. A lot of good people," Nate said.
Neuhaus had a buddy at the state wrestling meet last month. Tyson Klingelhoefer, a youngster and family friend, got to accompany Nate on the floor during consolation final matches on the last day of state. Tyson's brother wrestled for Amherst.
Tyson was asked why he wasn't dressed in a suit and tie like his buddy Nate? The young man had a quick reply.
"It's broken," Tyson said.
"He's a sharp kid," Nate said.
NEUHAUS SAID football might be his favorite sport.
"Maybe because that's what I played and maybe what I excelled at in my world, in my realm," he said. "I don't know how good I was at it. But that's where I was the most successful. I enjoy the game, and enjoy watching it. I coached it for a lot of years. I would suppose football's where my heart is."
With a major artery back to McCook. Nate was asked about the Bison football tradition and success that has lasted through the years.
"You can go even beyond football -- McCook and the coaches that they've have that have developed a culture of winning, working hard, pride in the McCook tradition," Nate said. "You think back, and I can remember back being in high school, the coaches that we played for, they taught you McCook tradition, so you know how to work hard, you know how to play hard, so that just leads to being successful, absolutely. Success breeds success.
"As I look back over my involvement in athletics, and the coaches that I had an opportunity to play for and the athletes I got a chance to play with in high school, led to a lot of great opportunities, such as where I'm at now. So I'm certainly fortunate for those people that molded me or even guided me down this path to where I ended up."
COACH GUMB is at the top of the list of Nate's favorite former McCook mentors.
"I have to come back and see Coach Gumb, one of the most quality people that I have ever known and a good friend of mine," Nate said. "But he's ugly -- you can quote me."
Neuhaus also credited a who's-who of Bison coaches that have contributed to his success.
"Greg Welch was a great football coach," Nate said. "Coach (R.C.) Coleman -- you can say anything more about him. Coach (Jeff) Gross, Coach (Bob) Fuller, Coach (Chad) Lyons, Coach (Dale) Lortz, Coach (Rich) Haney. Such a great experience that you can't help but just have a love for this kind of stuff."