Heimmermann named new Menominee Indian football coach

Nick Heimmermann was named the new Menominee Indian High School football coach, replacing Chris Clache.

While this will be Heimmermann’s first year in the Eagles’ program, he has an ample amount of coaching experience on his side.

He was a varsity coach at Hortonville for five years, and also coached a seventh grade team in that area for five years. He also coached Pop Warner in Appleton for three years.

As he takes over the Menominee Indian program, there are a few things working against him.

“The program is in the critical stage with low numbers, young and inexperienced players. We also lack size. It’s a triple whammy,” said Heimmermann.

“The plan, of course, is to build the program to a consistent competitive team,” he added. “Recruiting will be key. I was a late summer hire, which made it difficult to reach out to kids.”

Heimmermann is impressed with the school’s new weight room, saying that it, “rivals any for a school our size.”

“However weight rooms don’t make a difference if not used by the players after the season.”

The new coach added he wants his teams to be built on hard work, ball control and an attacking defense.

Clache said he stepped down from the head coaching role because of medical reasons.

“Long story short, my body could use a break after 20 years of being a head coach,” said Clache, who stepped down from the position in the beginning of May.

Along with coaching at Menominee Indian, he also spent a couple years at Shiocton.

“It will be hard but necessary to get myself healthy,” Clache said of not being able to coach. “Coaching will always be there. I do plan to coach again someday in some capacity but definitely not right now. I may reevaluate after a year off.”

The outgoing coach was most proud of all the relationships he’s built with his players and their families over the years. “I will miss that part the most — the sense of family we get as coaches here at Menominee Indian.”

“It’s been an honor and pleasure to coach here. I will miss it dearly.”

Menominee Indian is set to open its varsity season on Aug. 19 at Auburndale. The team’s first home game is tabbed for Aug. 25 against Waupun.

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