East’s newest varsity head football coach Aaron Thumann talks to his players, working intensely on preparing his team for success.  Thumann joined East after previous coach Nathan Liess retired last year. Thumann acknowledges his players’ good work and tells them where room for improvement is, although he does not just focus on his players’ performance on the field.

“We expect them to do well in school and keep their grades up,” Thumann said. “We expect them to be respectful young men in the building, to their teachers, and to their fellow students.”

Adding onto his current f expectations, Thumann also has made a change on how the players view the team, focusing on forming deeper relationships Senior Mark Anderson noted the difference Thumann has made so far.

“I think our team has transitioned from a team to a family,” Anderson said. “He’s definitely been a huge part of it. 

Anderson said he though it was Thumann’s attitude and his calmness with players when they make a mistake. 

“He does his best to stay patient and positive and teach us without getting mad,” Anderson said. “He always tells us that not everything is going to be perfect and we’re going face adversity, but he had so much belief in our potential and ability to overcome things.”

Thumann follows and lives by the saying “Row the Boat,” a mantra originated by University of Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck. 

“It’s a never-give-up mantra that has to do strictly with life or adversity or handling success, never giving up,” Fleck said in an interview with the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. 

Thumann uses the phrase as motivation for his team, and the players are on board.

“Row the boat is not just a saying,  but there is a very good meaning behind it,”  sophomore Mikey Gow said. “Row the boat means everybody has to do their part.”

Teamwork and performance on and off the field, are part of Thumann’s goals for his players this year.

“I want our team to know the importance of working hard, having a positive mindset, and understand, believe, and know that they can be successful,” Thumann said.