Now known for his political career as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Tim Walz also has a background in football coaching that speaks to his leadership and motivational skills.

His coaching journey was undertaken at the high school level, where he made a significant impact on the teams he led. At the Democratic National Convention earlier in the summer, some of his former players joined Walz on stage.

Walz at Alliance High School, Nebraska

Walz began his coaching career at Alliance High School in Nebraska, where he served as a linebackers coach. His time here was brief, and he resigned from extracurricular duties in 1995 due to legal issues unrelated to his coaching performance.

Walz at Mankato West High School, Minnesota

In 1996, Walz moved to Minnesota. Initially serving as a linebackers coach, he quickly took on additional responsibilities as the defensive coordinator and running backs coach at Mankato West High School. This was a critical time for the Mankato West Scarlets, who were struggling significantly. The team had endured a dismal stretch, losing 27 consecutive games before Walz’s arrival.

His time at the helm here proved much more fruitful. The 1999 season was particularly noteworthy; after starting with a challenging 2-4 record, Walz motivated his team to rally together and ultimately finish the season with an impressive record of 10-4.

“Everybody on that linebacker group played hard for Tim Walz because he demanded a lot and was great at showing you what you needed to do, explaining it, and motivating you,” former linebacker Dan Clement told Newsweek. “The primary differentiation was definitely his energy and commitment to the individual.”

The crowning achievement of that season was winning the state championship, a first for the school.