Bancroft-Rosalie Community Schools

You remember the old saying...if it ain’t broke, chances are the team will have a chance to play winning football. In its first two seasons following a highly successful sporting co-op with neighboring LyonsDecatur Northeast, Bancroft-Rosalie football struggled to gain any real traction, it’s 2023 season especially devastated by injury. During that two-year span the Panthers won only five games, missing the playoffs both times. In the new scheduling cycle the Panthers dropped from Class D-1 to Class D-2, kept everybody on the field and enjoyed an exciting 8- 2 season which included the program’s first independent playoff berth since 2014 and first playoff win since 2014’s state semifinal run. At the helm for all the success was former Panther great Kyle Elsasser, who we honor today as the Berens Coaching Award winner for 2024 Class D-2 football. The Berens Coaching Award is named in honor of former Omaha Roncalli head coach Mike Berens, who among his many achievements in that role led his undermanned team to the 2003 Class B state final. Despite having fewer than 30 players on his roster he was able to take his team to the school’s only state final, his ability to get the most from his team a blueprint for all our Berens Coaching Award winners over the years. “One of the most notable improvements we made as a team this year was our team chemistry. I could see the camaraderie building over the summer as a solid core group of PREMIUM CONTENT Published Dec 17, 2024 Share: guys were in attendance almost daily to workout together,” says Coach Elsasser. “This led to more trust, chemistry and confidence among those players during the season. While we still have a long way to go to compete in the upper echelon of the class, it was great to see that hard work lead to the improvements we displayed this season.” During the 2024 regular season Coach Elsasser’s team won its first seven games before losing the regular season finale to 2023 state finalist Wynot. In the playoffs the Panthers won a historic, and fun, 64-54 shootout over Fullerton before losing to longtime power Howells-Dodge in the round of 16. Coach Elsasser was in charge of the B-R football program for a single season prior to the BRLD cooperative, then once again became head coach in 2022, his teams progressing from two wins to three wins to eight wins. Over the course of his coaching career Coach Elsasser has established a few principals which guide his football program. “My defensive coordinator at Nebraska Wesleyan, John Bates, used to drill into his players the characteristics of a great team. All great teams display great attitude, effort, perseverance and togetherness,” he remembers. “Those guiding principles have stuck with me and I try to instill those same characteristics in the guys I coach. I’m a firm believer that football is a sport that helps turn boys into men, not just because of the physical nature of the game, but because of the life lessons it teaches you along the way. Attacking a challenge with the right attitude and relentless effort, not backing down when adversity strikes, and working together towards a common goal while putting the teams’ success above personal success, are all great life lessons that will help our guys succeed in life well beyond the football field.” Coach Elsasser also shares the credit for the team’s success with a veteran coaching staff. “I feel like I had a tremendous staff which definitely contributed to our success this season,” says Coach Elsasser. “Matt Kai coached our DBs and wide receivers and coordinated the defense while I coached the linebackers and backs, and was the offensive coordinator. We both relied heavily on input from our other assistant coaches who included T.J. Hilsinger (defensive line), Hunter Carpenter (D-line and O-line assistant), Cale Kai (linebacker assistant), and longtime head coach Jon Cerny, who coached the offensive line. “With the extra experience they brought to the table, Coach Cerny and Coach Hilsinger heavily contributed to game prep and in-game adjustments each week.” There is life outside of football and Coach Elsasser and his family dealt with more than just game plans during the season. The Elsassers welcomed their third child, son Jack, into the world six weeks early during Week Five of the football season, and the newborn member of the family spent about a month at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha while Kyle’s team finished out the season. “I would like to thank my wife and family for the extra responsibilities they have to take on to allow me to pursue my passion in coaching, especially in this most challenging season,” says Kyle. “I am grateful for all the support we received from our family and friends as responsibilities were juggled between home, work, and hospital time. This season was definitely one to remember.”