TURNING AROUND A LOSING PROGRAM

By Chad Hanson, Head Coach, Eleva-Strum High School (WI) Chad Hanson is the head coach at Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. Three years ago he was hired to improve the school’s football fortunes. In the previous three years prior to his arrival, the team won a total of five games. * What were the issues with the Eleva-Strum football program before you arrived? What was the culture like? - The situation that I walked into at Eleva-Strum was a unique one. The program was one of the top small school programs in the state of Wisconsin from 2002-2008. During that time they made the playoffs every year, played in 4 state semifinal games, and 2 state championships. In 2006 the program finished second and in 2007 they won the state championship. Two years later, for whatever reason, the wheels fell off. In 2010 it hit rock bottom with a 0-9 season. From 2009-2011 the football team won a