Since it was built in the mid-60s, it has been known as the Cleveland football field.
Next Friday, in a formal ceremony before the Clippers’ game against Lester Prairie, the field will be officially named “Dave Krenik Field.”
A group of his former players along with current coaches and friends informed Krenik of the name change at his house in Le Center this afternoon.
“We take so much pride in our facilities, and I think that it is only fitting to give it a name, and who better to name it after than our longest tenured coach,” said school board chairman Ron McCabe, who, along with Jeff Robb, a former player of Krenik’s and also a board member, came up with the naming plan.
Krenik was the head Clipper football coach from 1982 to 2011, 29 years. A fledgling program when he took it over, with Krenik at the helm, the Clippers made it all the way to the state tournament in 2007.
Former player and current CHS teacher David Cink informed Krenik of the honor as Krenik sat on his front door step.
“The things you don’t expect,” said a choked up Krenik after. “I’m honored.”
Krenik had no wins in his first season. It was 11-man back then. Later, the program split between 11-man and nine-man before going all nine-man.
“The first year was a struggle,” he said. “You’re thinking ‘are we ever going to win?’”
One way Krenik measured his longevity was by comparing it to the number of volleyball and basketball head coaches there were at Cleveland in his term as football coach: 37.
“They couldn’t get rid of me,” he joked.
Krenik went to grade school at Holy Redeemer in Montgomery before transferring to McKinley High School in Le Center. He earned a degree at Winona State University and taught health and PE at Cleveland until his retirement.
Krenik was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2017.
Meeting Krenik at his house were, from L-R, Brady Hahn (1995), Kyle Atherton (current coach), Jeff Robb (1989), Scott Matejcek (1996), Greg Davis (friend and scoreboard operator), Jason Hankins (2008), Marty Schmitz (2009), Don McCabe (1987), Matt Miller (2008), Steve Stauff (1998), Jamie Baker (1985), Larry Walechka (1983), Scott Perron (1998), Jack Zimmerman (2007), Craig Fritz (1991), Jeremy Weller (1991), Chris McCabe (1983), Coach Krenik, Rusty Bisek (1990), Doug McCabe (1988), Rich Kern (current AD), Erik Hermanson (current coach), Dave Cink (1985), Ron McCabe (school board chairman) and Jim Struck, father of Mike (1990) and Andy (1991).
Coach Krenik with his former players.