When Rick Wiedenhoeft left Fort Frances High School as a student back in 1967 for the University of Waterloo, he always knew he wanted to come back to his old school and teach.
He eventually reached that goal and, along the way, also achieved his other goal of becoming the school’s athletic director.
Wiedenhoeft took over from former athletic director Jim Martindale in 1984, and has held that position for most of the following years until now.
“I always wanted to come back here but there were no jobs so I went to Nipigon-Red Rock and taught there for eight years,” said Wiedenhoeft, who was head of the physical education department there for his final five years.
“I always wanted to be a teacher.”
Now, 17 years later, he’s officially stepping down as Fort High athletic director.
But it won’t be a move that goes unnoticed.
“He did an absolutely fantastic job,” enthused Struchan Gilson, who has coached alongside Wiedenhoeft for years. “He’s real organized and just a great guy to work with. He’s a super fellow and he’ll be a hard guy to replace.”
“For the last couple of decades, Rick has been athletics personified,” echoed Fort High principal Terry Ellwood. “He was a dedicated coach and mentor for the kids.
“He’s definitely going to leave a gaping hole in our athletic department. We have some big shoes to fill,” he stressed.
A former high school football and basketball star in his own right, and a former draft pick of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Wiedenhoeft said he’ll continue to teach in the alternative education program here while coaching and refereeing high school sports for the next two years.
“We have had a lot of tremendous athletes come and go but more importantly, we’ve had a lot of good kids come and go,” Wiedenhoeft, 52, said of the Muskie program.
“It’s not as important to produce star athletes that play professional [sports] but rather produce nice young ladies and gentlemen,” he reasoned.
Still, there’s no denying the Muskie program under his guidance has caught the attention of other schools across the province and into Manitoba.
“Actually, the last couple of years, we have won more championships–it’s nice to go out on top,” he said while putting away equipment at the school yesterday morning.
“But we’ve always had reasonable teams, I can’t remember any lean years. We have had good coaches and have always had great volunteers,” he stressed.
But while watching a plethora of talented athletes–and teams–during his 17-year career here, obviously some moments stood out over others.
“The highlights for me would be the 1989 [all-Ontario hockey showdown] and winning the championship in our own barn,” said Wiedenhoeft, grinning widely. “And moving into the new state-of-the-art facility and seeing the enjoyment and the pride.”
But there wasn’t always that pride in the old gym. And threats by the Harris government to force teachers to volunteer their time for extracurricular activities like sports has left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“In the last couple of years, the government has attacked the teachers, who have put in so much time, and they have been nothing but dumped on,” he charged. “It’s pushed me towards retiring.
“The government continues to try to force teachers to coach and ruin the quality of athletic programs, not only in this school but across the province,” he argued.
Still, Wiedenhoeft, admitted he can’t fathom completely retiring from work. “I’d like to do something, try something else. I may take some time off but I’m too young to be sitting on my [butt] for the next 25 or 30 years.”
That just wouldn’t be Wiedenhoeft. Never has been. Never would be.
Maybe that Tiger-Cat job is still open.