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Originally from Casselton, North Dakota, Harrison Koetz describes himself as a four-sport athlete who participated in basketball, baseball, track and cross country, in addition to choir, show choir, Science Olympiad and Destination Imagination as a high school student.

After college, Koetz moved to Albert Lea in 2020 to teach. He taught physical education classes at Halverson Elementary School for a few years before becoming a PE teacher at the high school. He is also the head coach of the boys’ basketball team, a role he has some prior experience in as he was an assistant basketball coach in college.

“Being head coach is a pretty big gig,” he said.

He oversees the seventh-grade team, eighth-grade team, two ninth-grade teams, the junior varsity and varsity program. He also helps the youth committee, youth programs and the travel programs for grades three through eight.

Koetz describes his coaching style as passionate. He has high expectations, he said, but he tries to be understanding and sincere. He credits his coaches when he was in school as well as his father for being good role models as he grew up.

He said his goal when he goes into work every day is to be the best he can be for his students.

This spring, Koetz became the assistant activities director for Albert Lea schools. Although the job was not always on his radar, he said, working as a teacher and coach started him on that road.

He said since coming to Albert Lea, co-workers Paul Durbahn and Dave Langerud have been good mentors for him.

“Watching them work and working with them, I wanted to get my foot in the door,” Koetz said. One element of Koetz’s job as assistant activities director is to promote extracurricular involvement to students at Southwest Middle School. The goal, he said, is to get them used to being in activities so they have experience when they get to high school.

“Activities have always been a passion of mine,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of emphasis on sports, sure, but I think things like the musical, plays, one act, stuff like that are also really important. … It gives the community something to watch, something to buy into, something to believe in, but our activities need them to believe in us, too.”

Koetz’s assistant activities director job also means he helps find coaches and set up for games and events. He is involved in all school sports during the various seasons — football, cross country and volleyball in the fall; basketball and wrestling in winter; and baseball and softball in spring, to name a few. He also helps with activities like robotics.

“I’m passionate about activities, and I’m passionate about sports and school, but I do it for the kids. I’m most passionate about them,” Koetz said.

He added he loves to see the Albert Lea community show up for their students.

“I think the communities and activities go hand in hand. They have a big part in each other’s success and failures, too,” he said.

When he is not working, Koetz said he enjoys spending time with his dog, playing sports, keeping up with Minnesota teams and other activities that help him unwind.