Line coach goes from preps to pros

April 10, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - To Hans Deemer, watching a player grow for four years is one of the more rewarding aspects of coaching on the prep level.

Now the longtime local high school coach has the opportunity to watch an entire franchise grow.

Deemer, an assistant coach with both the Colony and Palmer football programs during the last decade, is now part of the inaugural coaching staff of the Alaska Wild, the state's first professional indoor football squad.

Deemer is one of a handful of local coaches who have come together to help push the first-year franchise into the right direction. Deemer, an assistant coach at Palmer from 2002-2006 and Colony from 1996-2001, has been involved with the franchise since the first day the organization began putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

Deemer said Randy Magner, a former head coach at Colony who is now the Wild's vice president of operations, contacted him before Alaska was awarded an Intense Football League arena football franchise.

&#8220From day one,” Deemer said. &#8220I wanted to be involved in the action.”

Deemer - who joins Tom Huffer Sr,, one of the winningest prep football coaches in the state of Alaska, and Anchorage's Abe Hernandez as Alaskan's on the Wild coaching staff - is currently in charge of the defensive linemen. He said Huffer Sr. is now temporarily coaching the offensive lineman. But soon Deemer will be coaching the team's big men on both sides of the ball.

When it comes to style and philosophy, Deemer said there is not much of an adjustment when going from coaching the high school athletes on the 100-yard outdoor football field, to coaching professional athletes on the compact indoor field. But the business aspect provides the biggest changes.

&#8220What I've always enjoyed about high school is you never have to cut anyone,” Deemer said. &#8220Here you have a five of 10-day chance to prove yourself. That's all we can afford to give.”

The rules are a bit different for the defensive lineman, Deemer said. There are three lineman, and each must line-up face-to-face with the offensive counterpart. There's also no stunting - the quick misdirection by defensive lineman that is commonplace in the traditional game.

The arena game does favor speed, Deemer said.

&#8220We have one guy 6-foot-4, 270 (pounds), and lightning fast,” Deemer said. &#8220One guy is 6-4, 260, strong and fast.

&#8220Speed for sure on the defensive line,” Deemer said. &#8220You've got to rush the quarterback on every play.”

The 300-pounders are reserved for the offensive side, Deemer said, but you've got to be quick there too.

Plus technique is crucial on the shorter field.

&#8220I've always been a big technique person,” Deemer said. &#8220I spend a lot of time on technique.”

Deeemer classified his players at top football talents, and said some people may not realize exactly how talented some of the Wild athletes are.

&#8220You see them on the field, and everything about them says, ‘I'm a football player',” Deemer said.

Deemer said most of the players on the roster have four years of Division I experience.

&#8220These guys can really play football,” Deemer said.

Deemer, who lives in Palmer, has coached in the Valley since about 1993. He started on the youth level before making the move to high school.

&#8220I liked (coaching) high school,” Deemer said. &#8220Those are the four biggest years of your life. Your bodies change, your minds change. I like to see that change, how you mold them, and see what you mold them into.”

Deemer said he has been offered coaching opportunities at the college level in the past, but does not want to uproot his family from their Palmer home.

&#8220That dream is still on hold,” said Deemer, a father of 10.

But Deemer does belief his experience with the Wild will greatly help when he looks toward future coaching endeavors.

Just as football is a big part of Deemer's plans for the future, sports in general are a big part of day-to-day life in the Deemer household.

&#8220They're huge. Everybody is in some sport,” Deemer said.

Three of his sons play football. He has both sons and daughters involved with the Palmer High School dance team. And many of them participate in the MYAC youth basketball league.

His kids even ride horses.

&#8220Everything we do is athletic,” Deemer said.

Deemer makes his professional coaching debut Thursday when the Wild host the Frisco Thunder at the Sullivan Arena. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., at the Anchorage facility normally known as the home for hockey.

Deemer said it's been exciting to be a part of the introduction of pro football to Alaska.

&#8220We're telling our players, you're a part of history now,” Deemer said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.