MONROE - When Monroe cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner made the switch from football to cross country about three decades ago, he may have never imagined the impact he would make in his new sport.
Hirsbrunner, a Darlington alumnus, was the Redbirds' No. 1 runner when they won the state championship in 1986. He went on to coach cross country and has been doing so for 17 years. He has been named coach of the year three times, and in 2012 he made it an even four, being named the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association District 5 Coach of the Year.
"It makes me feel good for the program," Hirsbrunner said about receiving the top award for District 5, which includes 74 schools across the state. "It's nice to get voted because it's all your peers. Sometimes good kids can make coaches look good. Without the kids, there is no coaches' award."
Hirsbrunner pointed to the fact that it's an award for the program, crediting assistant coaches Howie Jubeck, Matt Barrett, Patrick Cleary and Scott Mosher.
"Someone's name has to go on the award, but it's really an award for the coaching staff," Hirsbrunner said.
This marks the fourth time Hirsbrunner has been named coach of the year. He also received the honor in 1996, 1999 and 2004. In his 17 years coaching cross country, Hirsbrunner has guided the Cheesemakers to eight conference championships and 12 state appearances. The Cheesemakers have had nine top-10 finishes at state, including a state runner-up finish in 2006. Hirsbrunner has also coached nine all-state and four individual conference champion runners.
Monroe was ranked in the top 10 in Division 2 all of last season. Last year, Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner made the switch from football to cross country and became the Cheesemakers' No. 1 runner, the Cheesemakers had to deal with an injury to Ethan Moehn. The Cheesemakers won the Badger South Conference for the third straight year and won the Monroe sectional championship at Twining Park. At the WIAA Division 2 state meet in Wisconsin Rapids, Monroe finished fourth as a team.
"We really had a lot of adversity this year," Hirsbrunner said. "It's one of the few times where we finished about as best as we could have at the state meet."
Part of their success may be directly attributed to Hirsbrunner, who his runners acknowledge as a motivator that gets the most out of his runners.
"I think it all starts with Hirsh and him having high expectations and pushing us every day," Moehn said. "He is very competitive in all situations. He wants us to win as bad as we do."
When top runners graduate, others are there to step into more prominent roles.
"I think part of it is kids see kids leaving, and they know there is a spot and they want to be there," Moehn said. "Hirsh takes kids who weren't a factor last year or who didn't run and he shapes them to fit that role."
Barrett, a 2005 graduate who ran cross country and track at Monroe before going to the University of Minnesota, believes the relationships that Hirsbrunner builds have a lasting effect on runners.
"There is a mutual respect between him and his runners," Barrett said. "When you have a positive relationship between a coach and his runners it's as good as any training plan. There is always open communication."
Barrett said many cross country runners in Monroe's program are also dedicated to running in the offseason.
"If they don't, they won't run at a very high level," Barrett said.
From his point of view, Hirsbrunner has a simple philosophy when it comes to coaching cross country.
"We don't have the success we have had by tearing kids down," he said. "We find the positive and focus on the positive. We try to create an atmosphere where athletes can be at the top of their game. If we give our best (as coaches), they will give their best."
Hirsbrunner, a Darlington alumnus, was the Redbirds' No. 1 runner when they won the state championship in 1986. He went on to coach cross country and has been doing so for 17 years. He has been named coach of the year three times, and in 2012 he made it an even four, being named the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association District 5 Coach of the Year.
"It makes me feel good for the program," Hirsbrunner said about receiving the top award for District 5, which includes 74 schools across the state. "It's nice to get voted because it's all your peers. Sometimes good kids can make coaches look good. Without the kids, there is no coaches' award."
Hirsbrunner pointed to the fact that it's an award for the program, crediting assistant coaches Howie Jubeck, Matt Barrett, Patrick Cleary and Scott Mosher.
"Someone's name has to go on the award, but it's really an award for the coaching staff," Hirsbrunner said.
This marks the fourth time Hirsbrunner has been named coach of the year. He also received the honor in 1996, 1999 and 2004. In his 17 years coaching cross country, Hirsbrunner has guided the Cheesemakers to eight conference championships and 12 state appearances. The Cheesemakers have had nine top-10 finishes at state, including a state runner-up finish in 2006. Hirsbrunner has also coached nine all-state and four individual conference champion runners.
Monroe was ranked in the top 10 in Division 2 all of last season. Last year, Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner made the switch from football to cross country and became the Cheesemakers' No. 1 runner, the Cheesemakers had to deal with an injury to Ethan Moehn. The Cheesemakers won the Badger South Conference for the third straight year and won the Monroe sectional championship at Twining Park. At the WIAA Division 2 state meet in Wisconsin Rapids, Monroe finished fourth as a team.
"We really had a lot of adversity this year," Hirsbrunner said. "It's one of the few times where we finished about as best as we could have at the state meet."
Part of their success may be directly attributed to Hirsbrunner, who his runners acknowledge as a motivator that gets the most out of his runners.
"I think it all starts with Hirsh and him having high expectations and pushing us every day," Moehn said. "He is very competitive in all situations. He wants us to win as bad as we do."
When top runners graduate, others are there to step into more prominent roles.
"I think part of it is kids see kids leaving, and they know there is a spot and they want to be there," Moehn said. "Hirsh takes kids who weren't a factor last year or who didn't run and he shapes them to fit that role."
Barrett, a 2005 graduate who ran cross country and track at Monroe before going to the University of Minnesota, believes the relationships that Hirsbrunner builds have a lasting effect on runners.
"There is a mutual respect between him and his runners," Barrett said. "When you have a positive relationship between a coach and his runners it's as good as any training plan. There is always open communication."
Barrett said many cross country runners in Monroe's program are also dedicated to running in the offseason.
"If they don't, they won't run at a very high level," Barrett said.
From his point of view, Hirsbrunner has a simple philosophy when it comes to coaching cross country.
"We don't have the success we have had by tearing kids down," he said. "We find the positive and focus on the positive. We try to create an atmosphere where athletes can be at the top of their game. If we give our best (as coaches), they will give their best."
