By Rob Morrissey
NFL Player Engagement
For the past six years Mike Rowe has been an active member of the ROCORI School District, working as a third grade teacher and head coach of the Spartans Football program. Under Coach Rowe ROCORI high school has won two conference titles and captured the school’s first and only state title. Prior to taking over the Spartans Football program Mike Rowe was coaching college football at Central Lakes College, Minot State, and St. Cloud State. Mike has been involved in the NFL High School Player Development Camps the last three years, and is married to wife Elisabeth, with whom he has two daughters Avery (8) and Aisnley (3).
When you’re developing talent, what are some of the intangibles that you look for and why?
There are five things we look for when it comes to developing talent. We expect commitment, toughness, effort, discipline, and Spartan pride out of each of our players. We are looking for players who will stay committed to our program. Football is a physical game and you have to be both physically and mentally tough if you want to succeed. Our coaching staff wants players to understand that if you want to get better you have to work for it. Putting in consistent effort every practice is how we are going to get better. It’s also important that players remain disciplined both on and off-the-field, setting positive examples for both their teammates and classmates. We also play up to 40 players in a game. We believe in giving our athletes a chance to shine and earn playing time during the game.
What are the characteristics of a successful high school football student-athlete on and off-the-field?
At ROCORI we believe that success on and off-the-field is based on the same three simple principles. These principles are Alignment, Assignment, and Execution. Although they may seem simple, they also cover a variety of issues that players may have to face. We expect our players to be where they are supposed to be, know what to do when they get there, and give every assignment everything they’ve got.
How do you and your staff begin developing leadership skills in your student-athletes?
My staff and I believe that developing leadership skills should take place both on and off-the-field. To help teach our players better leadership skills we host Monday meetings every week. We believe that giving our players the proper tools for their tool box can help better equip them for success on and off-the-field. Our Monday meetings cover topics on leadership, false masculinity, domestic and dating violence, and accountability. These meetings are more than an opportunity for teammates to bond; Monday meetings give players the opportunity to freely discuss ways in which they can become better role models for their community.
What advice would you give to a parent/guardian who is assisting his/her child with the college search process?
First and foremost when discussing the college process with players’ parents or guardians is to stress the importance of academics. Being actively engaged in the courses their son is taking, making sure that he has taken the core courses that many colleges and universities are looking for. Our staff has a lot of contacts in our state and we try to do a good job of getting players’ information and game film out to them early their junior year. Because of this we also encourage our players to take the ACT earlier than most students. Throughout the season we meet with our athletes to sit down and talk about their interest in playing football at the collegiate level. This way we can be sure to keep everyone on the right track so that when it comes time to make important decisions all options are still on the table.
What is something every incoming freshman should know as they transition into high school athletics?
I believe that when players transition from middle school to high school football one of the biggest changes players face is the level of commitment they are expected to give to the program. Our district does things a little differently and we invite our incoming freshmen to team lifts and summer conditioning drills at the high school. We also try and meet with 9th grade parents twice a season to address any questions or concerns they might have. Incoming freshman need to understand that their grades matter, and that they are going to be held accountable for their actions in the same way any varsity player would be. With everyone being on the same page it is easier for families to transition to the next level of football.
How do you create a healthy culture within your locker room?
Our football team believes that a healthy locker room culture comes from when your team becomes a family, when no one cares about who gets the credit as long as the job gets done. To achieve this our coaching staff does something a little different. We break our team into six color teams that compete against each other throughout the summer and into the fall. These teams are made up of sophomores, juniors, and seniors so that groups are made out of athletes who may not normally hangout together. What makes these teams special is that once you are on that team you stay on it all three years you play for the Spartans. We believe that these color teams help us create a competitive setting for our athletes to bond with their teammates.
How have you seen the student-athlete experience evolve over the years?
I have seen the student-athlete experience evolve a lot over the last few years. At our program we work very hard on trying to develop the whole person. We want our student-athletes to excel first in the classroom because without that you have nothing after high school. We also want to give our student-athletes an authentic high school football experience. We are blessed to be in a smaller high school so our student-athletes get an opportunity to join different activities and participate in things that maybe students at another high school wouldn't.