By STUART GROSKREUTZ
February 24, 2011
Activities director Ricky Michel fielded inquiries and applications from far and wide, but didn't look far to find Stillwater's next head football coach.
Michel sifted through 42 applicants, including some from as far as Florida, Texas and Arizona, but named Woodbury coach Beau LaBore to that post on Wednesday. LaBore takes over for Scott Hoffman, who retired this fall after leading the Ponies to a 64-49 record in 11 seasons - a stretch that included four conference championships and two section titles.
"He is very organized and comes into the position with experience," Michel said. "He's got experience in the SEC and he has an idea of what some of our players can do. He's very hard working and everybody that we've talked to says he's very hard working, motivated and energetic. He really cares about it and all those things that make him a pretty complete package."
LaBore spent six seasons guiding the Royals to a 26-33 record - with a 1-6 mark against the Ponies - including a second-place finish in the Suburban East Conference in 2008 (6-1 SEC, 9-2) when their only losses were to Cretin-Derham Hall in the regular season and in the section finals.
"It's been a wild 24 hours," LaBore said on Thursday morning. "Stillwater High School has an unbelievable tradition and there is a great deal of expectations in the classroom and in activities and athletics. The tradition of the Stillwater football team is as good as any in the state and I'm just excited to be able to embrace that tradition while becoming part of it."
LaBore, a South St. Paul graduate, is 18-3 in conference games against teams other than Stillwater, Cretin-Derham Hall and Mounds View, but won just two games in six seasons against the league's big three.
"I can tell you I have, since high school in the mid-90s through today and as a coach in the SEC, watched Stillwater consistently put a tough, competitive group out on the field and that's something that draws a coach to this position," he said.
In 40 seasons during the modern era of Stillwater football, which began with the arrival of hall of fame coach George Thole in 1971, the Ponies have captured 17 conference titles and qualified for the state tournament 19 times - including state titles in 1975, 1982, 1984 and 1995.
The Ponies should have a head start on scouting next season's first opponent as Stillwater hosts Woodbury in the season opener, although LaBore won't be the only new face on the home sideline. Long-time assistant coaches Dick Klein and Mike Pavlovich joined Hoffman in retiring after this past fall, which saw the Ponies win their second straight conference title and advance to the section finals.
Stillwater is 18-3 over the past two seasons.
"It is difficult," LaBore said of leaving the Royals. "I've had a great experience the last six years at Woodbury High Schoool and I've given a big part of my life to this program and wish nothing but the best for the Woodbury program and the players and the people I've come in contact with. At the same time, the reputation of Stillwater and the football program speaks for itself and it makes a change and the challenge of leaving one program for another much more manageable."
LaBore has played for and coached under many top coaches, including legendary St. John's University coach John Gagliardi during a storied career with the Johnnies. He was a three-year starter at linebacker who contributed to MIAC championships in 1998 and 1999 and an NCAA Division III runner-up finish in 2000.
The former captain and three-time Academic All-MIAC selection graduated as the program's all-time leading tackler and was selected to the D3football.com All-Decade Team.
LaBore, who also has coaching experience in basketball and track, served as an assistant coach at Minnetonka (2001), Hastings (2002-03) and South St. Paul (2004) before taking over the Woodbury program in 2005 at the ripe age of 26.
"I felt prepared to be a head coach at age 26, but without question there are things that you have to learn as a head coach before you really understand them," LaBore said. "I feel like the six years that I've been a head coach have been a wonderful learning experience and I don't think anybody should ever stop learning. I've got more things I want to figure out and learn, but I feel I have a very strong foundation and ability to be a head football coach."