GRANITE FALLS -- Dave Brokke is retiring after 31 years of coaching in the high school football ranks that produced two state championships, 220 career wins and 10 conference championships.
Brooke served as the head football coach in the Granite Falls school district -- Granite Falls (1978-88), Granite Falls-Clarkfield (1989-1994) and Yellow Medicine East (1995-2005) -- for the last 28 seasons, compiling a record of 201-88. Brooke had a record of 19-9 while guiding Sleepy Eye from 1975-77.
"People around here knew it was a possibility that I would retire," said Brokke, who turned in his resignation during the March school board meeting. "I thought about it all year, but the time was right."
Brooke arrived in Granite Falls in 1978, a year after the Kilowatts won the Class B championship. It took Brooke only four years in his tenure at Granite Falls to reach the state tournament.
After six appearances in the state tournament, including Class B titles in 1984 and '87 and a runner-up finish in '86, the Kilowatts went 105-12 during the '80s. Granite Falls went 14-0 in both of its championship seasons and was the only program to win more than one Class B title in the '80s.
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It took Brokke 17 years to take another team into the state tournament after winning it all in 1987, but Brokke guided YME into the last two Class AA state tournament's.
"There were a lot of good athletes here," said Brokke. "The last couple of years we got to state. We were hoping to get to the Metrodome, but hopefully they will get there soon."
Brokke will also be relinquishing his role as the school's athletic director after seven years. Brokke also said that he will also step down as Granite Falls' community education director this year after holding that title for 28 years.
As for a possible replacement for Brokke as the football coach, the one-time Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year said he hasn't heard of any at this time.
"Hopefully, it's somebody on staff," said Brokke. "We have good coaches and it's a good possibility that it will be someone on the staff."
Brokke led his teams to five consecutive Southern Sioux Conference titles (1982-86), three Two Twelve Conference titles (1987, '88 and '91), one Little Sioux Conference title (1981) and a share of the West Central South Conference crown in what proved to be his final season.
"Football hasn't changed as much as some sports," said Brokke. "The kids still work hard and have a great desire to win. I'm lucky to be associated with a good sport and it was a fun run."
Herman to play in All-Star Series
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Todd Herman of New London-Spicer was one of 40 seniors selected to play in the 24th annual Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Series this weekend.
Herman, the only area participant in the event, will be playing for the Green Team. Herman's first game will be Friday at 8:45 p.m. at St. Cloud State University against the Maroon Team, which features Braham's Isaiah Dahlman. Braham beat New London-Spicer 76-52 in the quarterfinals of the Class AA State Tournament this year.
The Blue and Gold teams will face off at 7 p.m. in the first game Friday. Saturday's events move to Concordia-St. Paul University of Saturday with games at 2:15 and 4 p.m. A three-point shootout and dunk contest will precede all four games.
Herman, a 6-4 guard, averaged 21.1 points and 8.6 rebounds a game this season to help the Wildcats post a 25-6 record.
