Taake era comes to a close after 20 years of leading the Golden Eagles
Coach Mike Taake and quarterback Tyler Tardff go over a play, this past season, Taake's last as head coach.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
It was just time. Mauston football coach Mike Taake said of his stepping down as coach after 21 years as part of the Golden Eagles coaching staff, 20 of which were as head coach.
His final season was bittersweet. Following a couple big non-conference wins, and a 2-0 start in South Central Conference (SCC) play, the Golden Eagles had their sights set on their first SCC title since 2000. Taake also was selected as part of the 2009 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame class. Unfortunately, Mauston couldn't match up with the size of their final three opponents, and failed to reach the playoffs.
Still Taake felt he couldn't have picked a better group of players to go out with. "Going out with this group, especially the seniors, the captains, they helped bring back pride, hustle and emotion to Mauston football. It made it a lot easier. I am so proud of them and it is an honor going out with them," Taake said at his final awards banquet as coach last week.
Taake's coaching career started shortly after his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the spring of 1978, he took over the Rib Lake program in the fall of 1978. Rib Lake had only been playing tackle football for eight years before Taake's arrival. Taake, as he would at almost every stop in his coaching career, was able to reshape the program and, in his third and final season with the team, he led them to a 5-4 mark, before moving on to a struggling program at the St. John's Military Academy in Delafield.
In Taake's second season at St. John's he guided the team to a conference title and a state final appearance. Taake's third and final season at St. John's included a memorable trip to Mexico City for an exhibition game against the Mexico City All-Stars, which ended in a 7-7 tie, and a trip to the state semifinals.
A quick one year stop at De Pere followed his tenure at St. John's, before heading up to Marquette, Mich. for three above .500 seasons, before making his way to Mauston.
In his first season at Mauston, Taake served as an assistant to head coach Brian White before taking over as head coach for the 1989 season. Taake faced turning another team around, much like his previous stops. Mauston was coming off a 3-6 season, and hadn't had a winning season for seven years.
Taake was able to quickly change the culture, and build his team around hardwork, integrity and a sense of family. The Golden Eagles players responded and his first team was able to top Tomah in their regular season finale to finish with a 5-4 record. "That was a special group of kids, getting that win over Tomah was great," Taake said.
The winning continued as the Golden Eagles were able to win two South Central Conference (SCC) titles, along with two second place finishes from 1990-94. The SCC title in 1992, that the Golden Eagles split with Nekoosa was the first in 47 years, and also their first playoff appearance.
"I still remember that game, the excitement that the players had, that was a very memorable season. We had such a respectful rivalry with the Nekoosa coaching staff and to beat them in the final game of the year, it was a great game," Taake said.
The excitement and memories continued, when just two years later Taake led the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 record and the school clinched their first outright SCC title in football, with a 13-12 win at Portage. "I still have a picture of the scoreboard. They were planning a celebration, 'cause they thought they would win. Their coach was just in shock," Taake said.
After a few seasons coming up short of the playoffs, a string of four straight play-off runs started in 1998. The 2000 team was able to win the third conference title under Taake, clinching the crown again with a win over Portage, en route to setting a school record for wins with 10 and making it to the state quarterfinals.
In 2001, the Golden Eagles finished runner-up in the SCC but was able to reach the state quarterfinals for the second straight season. "Those runs with the 2000 and 2001 teams, those were fun, playing deep into the play-offs, with a great group of kids," Taake said. A pair of play-off appearances in 2003 and 2005, were the last of the eight in the Taake era.
Thoughout many coaching career memories from different games, teams, players and fellow coaches become intertwined. Taake reminisced about some of his favorite and most memorable. "The first year, along with the championship teams, and this year's team are probably the most memorable. I still have contact with a lot of those players," Taake said. "Some of the early ones, Mark Scully, David Dahlstrom, Dallas Enz and the Penzkover boys all helped turn the program around along with Kevin Scully, Don and Glen Rogers and Jay Mitchell from the early 90's. I remember that 2000 team with Jason Schluter, Mark Wilcox, Jake Marsh, Randy Gyllin, Brandon and Dustin Czys, Rich Roberts and Jacob Burch, so many guys, the Roecker brothers and the Buchmeier brothers. Coach Ron Pfaff has been with me the entire time at Mauston. Jim Dillin and Jack Hammer, I have to thank them for their dedication and loyalty to the program."
Taake's coaching career and his family are also intertwined. His wife Laura is from Rib Lake, the first stop on his coaching career, and his daughter Mallory has been on the Golden Eagle sidelines for every game since she was in third grade. "Mallory being there really meant a lot. She didn't miss a game for 13 years. It was really special for me," Taake said.
In all, Taake compiled a 150-134 record during his 31-year Hall of Fame coaching career, including a 102-91 mark at Mauston. "Being selected for the Hall of Fame, it was very emotional. I am very honored and proud. I was able to coach great groups of players and with a lot of great coaches," he said.
"The support here in Mauston from the faculty, administration, parents and players... I will never forget."