Tim Walz knows football.
Mankato West has emerged as a Minnesota high school football powerhouse in the 21st century, securing state championships in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2021.
However, their journey to prominence began with their first state title in 1999, under the leadership of Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ choice for her vice presidential running mate.
Tim Walz, serving as the Scarlets’ defensive coordinator, was instrumental in the team’s historic 1999 victory. Just three years prior, Mankato West endured a 0-27 losing streak, but with Walz on the coaching staff, they climbed to the pinnacle of Minnesota high school football. The Scarlets started the 1999 season with a 2-4 record but rallied to win eight consecutive games, culminating in their first state championship. Walz’s strategic use of a 4-4 defense played a critical role in their success, all while he balanced his duties in the National Guard.
Mankato West is set to kick off its 2024 season on August 30.
One of the marquee matchups to watch is against Clanhassen on September 27, a game that promises to be a highlight of the Minnesota high school football schedule. As the Scarlets take the field, Tim Walz will be on the campaign trail, supporting Kamala Harris in her bid to become the first woman elected as President of the United States.
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Before his time at Mankato West, Walz coached football and girls basketball at Alliance High School in Nebraska. His career path shifted dramatically in 2006 when he defeated longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht to win a seat in Congress, where he served until his election as Minnesota governor in 2018. On Tuesday, Harris announced Walz, 60, as her vice presidential choice.
Walz’s football background brings a unique dimension to the campaign, reminiscent of Jack Kemp, the former NFL quarterback who ran as Bob Dole’s vice-presidential candidate in 1996. Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar expressed confidence in Walz’s ability to connect with voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan, citing his optimistic outlook, small-town roots, and deep understanding of the Midwest.
“This isn’t the silver-spoon candidate,” Klobuchar told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “He is someone who came from humble roots, and he actually gets America in a way that we haven’t seen.”
Reflecting on his time at Mankato West in 1999, Walz not only shaped the football team’s defense but also taught geography. He supported a student initiative to start a gay-straight alliance, stepping in as the faculty adviser due to his unique position as the football coach, a soldier, and a married straight man. “It really needed to be the football coach, who was the soldier and was straight and was married,” Walz told the Star-Tribune in 2018.
Fast forward 25 years, and Walz is vying to become the third vice president from Minnesota, following in the footsteps of Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale.
His journey from the football field to the political arena showcases a remarkable blend of leadership, resilience, and dedication.
