Bart Curtis, Warsaw’s new head football coach, attended Tuesday night’s Warsaw Community Schools board meeting.
He was accompanied by his wife Sara; daughter, Hannah; and one of his two sons, Michael, who teaches English at WCHS. His other son, Brian, was unable to attend.
Principal Troy Akers asked the board to consider Curtis for the coaching position.
“It just gives me great pleasure to know that when we have really turned the chapter in Warsaw athletics, in particular Tiger football, a long chapter of success with Coach Jensen, to be able to attract top quality individuals that would like to move our program further down the line. It was a wonderful process. ... At this point, this is the gentleman that is going to take us into the future,” Akers said.
After Curtis was approved 7-0 to become the program’s 19th head coach and he and his family greeted the board members, Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert reminded everyone of the official press conference at 7 p.m. at the high school.
“This has been hard news to keep contained. It’s been really hard because people have been floating things around all over the place,” Hoffert said, adding that he spoke with Curtis’ former superintendent.
“The statement he made about you and your family was just incredible,” Hoffert told Curtis. “He said we are just an absolute fortunate school corporation to have your entire family here. And the statement that I thought was even more powerful, he said you’re getting a Hall of Fame football coach, but you’re getting an even better person, better teacher and a better administrator. Again, that was a lot on your character, your competence. So, we are so excited to have you as part of our Warsaw family.”
Curtis also will serve as the WCHS dean of attendance. His son Michael has taught English at WCHS for the past two school years and was an assistant in charge of the offensive line under Jensen. Michael also will serve as an assistant coach under his father.
Curtis told the school board, “We’re excited as well. I want to thank the board and the committee. ... It was a great process and you learn a lot about yourself when you go through something like this and you learn a lot about your family, and we’re excited to start a new chapter in our lives.”
He said when his wife Sara married him 27 years ago, “I don’t think she knew what she was in for. Twenty-six and a half of those I’ve been a head football coach and she’s been right beside me, and I consider her my co-coach in this. She’s been through it the whole way, as have the kids.”
