By Bruce Warren

If genes and exposure count for anything, Niwot High found a worthy successor to retiring head football coach Paul “Tiny” Koehler. 

After a lengthy selection process, NHS business teacher Ron Tesone was named the new head football coach for the fall 2001 season. Tesone served as offensive coordinator for Koehler last fall after serving one year under coach Dave Logan at Arvada West. 

Before that Tesone had been an assistant coach at his alma mater, Cherry Creek High School in Denver for 5 years.  He played running back under his father, legendary Cherry Creek coach Fred Tesone, who won three state championships. 

When Fred Tesone retired from coaching after 27 years, he moved to Niwot where he lives almost due south of the football field.  Tesone’s father isn’t the only family member in the area.  Tesone’s oldest sister, Edie Tesone, is a longtime Niwot area resident.  “She’ll be my Marketing Coordinator,” Tesone joked. 

After graduating from high school in 1983, Ron Tesone played one year at Mesa State before transferring to CSU where he played cornerback under coach Leon Fuller, graduating in 1988.  “I had some speed in those days,” Tesone recalled.  After several years in the business world, Tesone began his coaching career in 1995 as an assistant for his father’s successor, Mark Woolford, at Cherry Creek, then obtained his teaching certificate and entered the classroom while continuing to coach. 
““I’ve had a chance to be around three great high school programs at Cherry Creek, Arvada West and 
Niwot High,” Tesone said.  “Playing college ball was helpful too.  You learn a lot of the little things, especially technique.  Knowing the college atmosphere helps too.  Hopefully I can help kids here get a look from Division I schools or smaller colleges.”

At this point, Tesone expects to serve as his own Offensive Coordinator.  “We’ll try to open it up a little more this year,” Tesone said.  “We have Ryan Diggins returning at quarterback, and we hope to get the ball to Paul Creighton as much as we can.  And we have Tony Pflipsen to carry the ball again.”

“We need to do a little better on defense.  A few kids will go both ways, but we do have some depth.  I want to make sure we give the younger kids a chance too.” 

Tesone hopes to have many of Koehler’s assistants back.  “I’ve talked to all of them and I think most of them plan to return.  I’d like to be able to hire strictly freshman coaches too.” 

Tesone is excited to have the new Strength and Conditioning Building available.  “We’ll have it open five days a week in the summer,” he noted.  “I want to get into a team thowing camp at CU or CSU, and play some seven on seven.”  Tesone also plans to run a speed camp at the school this summer. 

“We have our Golf Tournament fundraiser on Monday, June 11 at Twin Peaks in Longmont,” Tesone said.  Anyone wishing to play should contact Bill Lambert at 303-442-5266. 

NHS Athletic Director Rob Berry announced Tesone’s hiring, noting that he was one of three finalists selected by the committee of parents, players, coaches and administrators. The selection process generated applicants from out of state and around the state, including two who later withdrew from consideration, but the district didn’t have to go far to find Tesone. 

News of his selection made Tesone’s recovery from a torn Achilles tendon slightly easier to bear.  He suffered the injury a month ago while playing basketball with assistant principal Dennis Daly against “some younger and skinnier teachers,” according to Tesone. 
“We were winning big at the time,” he noted.  The Cougars hope for the same on the football field next fall with Tesone in charge.