As I prepared for the start of our radio coverage of the 1997 high school football season, I contacted Mike Garner to see if he would be willing to do an interview with the radio station that we could use as part of our pregame show during our radio broadcast of the game. This was Mike’s first year as head coach and I wasn’t sure what his response would be. He graciously said yes and an interview with the coach became a permanent part of our broadcast. What I didn’t know at the time is that it would be a part of our high school football coverage for the next 23 seasons. Coach Garner has announced that he will be stepping down as Broken Bow’s head football coach and I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down and visit with the coach one more time. During his time as head coach, he compiled an overall record of 129 wins and 83 losses, his teams qualified for the playoffs 13 times, won 7 district titles, and 1 southwest conference championship. I asked coach what led him to feel that this was the right time to step away.
Mike started at Broken Bow High School in the fall of 1990 and served as an assistant coach for Jerry Scott and then Kevin Foster before becoming head coach in the fall of 1997. Coach shared with us the influence and impact of others on his coaching career.
What many of us don’t see are the numerous hours high school coaches put in behind the scenes in preparation. Every coach I have talked to has told me that coaching inevitably cuts into your family time so it is important to have a strong support system at home and coach Garner told me that he has been so thankful to have had that during his career.
Thank you coach for the time you have given and kindness you have shown to KCNI radio. We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
Listen to our full interview with coach Garner
