Retired Cook County High School teacher, coach and athletic director Lyle Anderson was recently inducted into the Polar League Hall of Fame. Current CCHS Athletic Director Pam Taylor presented the award to Anderson at the banquet.
It’s been 16 years since Lyle Anderson last prowled the sidelines as head coach of the Cook County High School Viking football team, and nine years since he served as the school’s athletic director, but excellence is not soon forgotten, and for his 25 years of service to CCHS sports and his work with the Polar League, Anderson was inducted into the Polar League Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 27.
“I was really honored by the award,” said Anderson. “The award was given not just for coaching but for my body of work as athletic director as well.”
Celebrating the honor with Anderson were current coaches: Football Coach Mitch Dorr, Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson, Softball Coach Jessie Anderson, Assistant boys’ Basketball Coach Rick Crawford, Athletic Director Pam Taylor and Lyle’s right-hand man on the sidelines for many of his victories, retired Assistant Football Coach Mike Boomer.
“My wife Shelby was also there. That meant a lot to me. I really appreciated the outpouring of support from friends and family,” said Anderson.
Athletic director’s work largely goes unrecognized to the public, but there is a lot of behind-the-scenes coordinating between conference schools on schedules, game times, showers, towels, busses, meals, etc.
This isn’t the first award Anderson has won. In 1999, he was named Minnesota Class A State High School Football coach of the year. In 2003, he was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Last year Anderson was named honorary coach for the North squad at the 42nd annual Minnesota Football Coaches All- Star game held June 27.
What will always stick with Cook County High School football fans are the many conference titles and Section wins Anderson’s teams produced. Highlighting that run of course were the teams from the late 1990s. From 1997-99, Anderson guided Cook County to three straight unbeaten seasons culminating in three Class A state football championships. A record few teams will ever match.
Over the course of his career Anderson’s football teams posted a record of 189 wins and 84 losses. Not long after his retirement the CCHS football field was named after him.
He hasn’t been on the sidelines for Cook County for years, but his former players still call him “Coach” when greeting him, and awards aside, that might be the biggest tribute to him. Coach Anderson. It has a nice ring to it. Excellence isn’t soon forgotten.
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