Brooks Bollinger Takes Coaching Job At Cretin-Derham Hall
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Brooks Bollinger won a Rose Bowl. He spent six years in the NFL and was sacked 49 times.
But his most daunting task yet may be coaching at his wife's alma mater, Cretin-Derham Hall.
"She likes it, but that's a little pressure, you know?" he said. "I mean, there's high expectations at home."
After a life in high-level football, Bollinger has settled down to call the Twin Cities home.
But he can't give up the game yet, which is why when Cretin-Derham head coach Mike Scanlan came calling, Bollinger couldn't say no.
"There's a great history and tradition here, and just to have the opportunity to be around a program like this and work with kids like this is just a great opportunity," he said.
It's working with the kids, Bollinger says, that keeps him in it, more than anything else.
"I think the most important things are the bigger life lessons, helping them use this as a tool to grow into a better person, a better man, as time goes on," he said. "That's ultimately why we all do this."
When it comes to teaching the game itself, there are certainly worse people to learn from. And he enjoys passing on his knowledge.
"[There are] little tricks and understanding of the game that can help enhance and hopefully speed up their progression and help them to become a better football player," he said.
Let's say he helps his wife's school win a state title? You've got to bank those brownie points any way you can.
"It's been a fun opportunity for me," he said.
