Football has always been there for Mike Hohensee. When he was a youth, he played football. When he was in college, he played football. And when his playing career was over, he coached football.
Hohensee played in the Arena Football League for two seasons - including throwing the League's first-ever touchdown pass -- before he turned to coaching. He is in his 15th season as an AFL head coach, his eighth with the Chicago Rush. Hohensee has guided the Rush to an 80-53 record over that span, earning a trip to the playoffs each year and an ArenaBowl XX championship.
Long before winning professional football championships, Hohensee was building his foundation through youth football. He learned many valuable lessons, not only about the game, but about life.
"It was a great experience," Hohensee said. "Football helped me get involved. It gave me a safe haven. It allowed me to enjoy myself, to better myself and to meet new friends.
"Early on, I knew nothing about the game," Hohensee said. "Youth football gave me a chance to play for some great coaches and learn a lot. I thought it helped me to grow up quick."
To this day, Hohensee reflects on his experiences as a youth when coaching the Rush. Above all else, youth football taught him to never forget the fundamentals and to have fun.
"Sometimes you will have better talent, sometimes not," Hohensee said. "But if you are doing things the right way, doing the fundamentals, you will have a chance to win. You also want to make sure to have fun. For us it's tougher because it's our jobs and we get paid to do it. But we still try to have fun."
Hohensee was always drawn to the game. He said his passion for football and the knowledge he learned through playing led him down the coaching path.
"I love the fact that you could take a kid with marginal talent and make him into a good football player," Hohensee said.
Hohensee advises all aspiring coaches to make the game fun for their players, and to be prepared each and every day. When he is not coaching the Rush, Hohensee often takes part in youth football clinics around Chicago, teaching young players about fundamentals. He continues to have a vested interest in youth football, as his two sons play as well. Though Hohensee prefers to play the role of supporter rather than coach, he is clear on what he would like his sons and all youth players to learn from the game.
"One thing I tell a coach is don't teach them winning and losing," Hohensee said. "Teach them how to deal with winning and losing. That is something they are going to need for the rest of their life."