Cover Painting Artist / Brooklyn Nelson / Two Harbors High School / Class of 2026
The expanded Photo Gallery can be found by clicking here: Photo Gallery: Every Day is Game Day
ABOUT THIS EXCERPT
These four chapters focus on the uncommon and creative approaches Tom Nelson has taken as head coach of the football team in Two Harbors. Nelson would be first to remind me that none of this would have happened without the support of his assistant coaches, school staff and members of the community.
Table of Contents
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
Pericles, Ancient Greece Politician – Referenced in “Legacy” by James Kerr
Posted on the wall inside Miles P. Henderson Field House in Canadian, Texas
Chapter 18: Stacking Wood
GAMEDAY – 10:00 am
Earlier, I mentioned something else that happened in the hours leading up to the Homecoming Game.
September mornings in Minnesota are a prelude to polar temperatures. The first morning chill of fall catches everyone’s attention. Winter preparations commence. Squirrels gather nuts. Bears make their beds—or something like that, in caves. Deer and foxes grow a thicker coat of fur. Canadian geese get out of town—perhaps some ride the wind to a city whose name resonates with theirs—Canadian, Texas.
Humans also prepare.
Early in the week, an elderly local citizen contacted Two Harbors High School. A pile of firewood had been delivered to their unsheltered backyard. Their wood-burning stove would keep their family warm and offset the costs of other heating alternatives.
“Could any of the kids from the school stack our winter woodpile for us?”
Two boys and their dad answered the call on Friday morning, hours before their 7 pm game. Two Harbors High School operates on a four-day schedule. There is no school on Fridays for the students. Eight hours available to complete their homework or just sit around playing mindless video games (writes a snobbish, grumpy old man who happens to know every single nuance of “Medal of Honor: Frontline” Playstation 2 video game. The “Derailed” mission is best). Or, perhaps the brothers and their dad would opt to use these hours to make a difference—to leave an impression—and, in their small way, to make this town a better place.
The family fell into traditional roles during this 46-mile round trip. Dad managed the gas pedal, brakes, blinkers, and steering wheel. The brothers would argue over the road trip playlist. This trip from “the country” would be sonically accompanied by country. One fought for Luke Combs—the other for Morgan Wallen. The young passengers were known to be swift, but their music wasn’t.
This was an exceptional day for all involved. The weather was unseasonably cooperative—68 degrees with a few clouds. The wood pile was stacked in short order. Later that night, one of the boys—a sophomore, played very well in the Homecoming game. The other brother scored four touchdowns. The father, who spent quality time with two of his sons during the day, coached his team to victory.
Pregame rituals of rest, stretching, and hydrating were taken to the woodshed.
Meanwhile, a local family felt comforted—by the warmth of their wood stove and the peace of knowing they weren’t alone.
Carter and Tate Nelson after stacking a wood pile taller than them on game day morning.
September 22, 2023
Chapter 19: It's Not About the Couch
“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished, it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”
The school administrator’s phone rang on Friday morning:
“Hello,” he answered.
“I’ve heard your football players sometimes assist local residents with projects. Is that true?” the citizen asked.
“We sure do. Other kids help, too. Basketball players. Cheerleaders, and others.”
“Well, how does it work?”
“You tell us what you need, and we’ll see if any kids are available. We ask you to limit your expectations to a maximum of two hours of their time. Some kids have other jobs, need to do schoolwork, and need time to be kids like we did when we were their age. We also ensure that we have at least one adult with the kids. Sometimes that’s a coach; sometimes it’s one of their parents.”
“Oh, I completely understand. I can’t believe they’d even offer two hours of their time. Does it cost anything?”
“No, we don’t charge anything—it’s a community service initiative. But if you’d like to make a small donation, that’s OK. We put that towards the budget to pay for sports uniforms and other equipment. So, what kind of work do you need to be done?”
“Well, my late husband and I cleaned our gutters for years, but I’m no longer confident about climbing the ladder alone. All the leaves have fallen from the trees, and I’m sure the gutters are full. Can they help with that?”
“Sure! Give us some time to round up a few guys, and I’ll get back to you. How soon do you need this done? “
“Oh, no hurry. Whenever they are available.”
“OK, stay tuned.”
Fifteen minutes later, the administrator called the homeowner. “We’ve got three boys and a coach available tomorrow morning at 10:00. Will that work for you?”
“You’re kidding. You already found kids willing to help?”
“Yes, we have a great group of kids in town. They are happy to help. We even have one boy from Duluth Marshall who plays on our football team and volunteered to drive up here to help. We’ll bring our ladder.”
“Wait. Did you say he drives 25 miles from Duluth to help and then drives back home?”
“Yes. Other kids from Marshall and Lakeview Christian Academy and Silver Bay have come to Two Harbors to help with some of these projects.”
“Wow. Well, this is fantastic. I’ll be waiting for them tomorrow morning. Thank you so much.”
As promised, the boys and the coach showed up at 10 am, then clowned around a bit while cleaning the gutters and packing the leaves into large paper bags. Within 30 minutes, they were near completion of the job.
The homeowner handed the coach an unnecessary but much-appreciated donation. Then, the coach grabbed the ladder and loaded it into his truck.
He turned around in time to notice some peculiar behavior.
The homeowner stood near the dwindling pile of leaves as the boys raked and bagged them. As each boy dumped a handful of leaves into the bag, the coach noticed a series of handoffs deftly performed reminiscent of the Agates Double Wing misdirection offense. One boy walked this way and appeared to have received a handoff. A second boy walked in the opposite direction and seemed to accept a similar handoff.
As the third boy approached the appreciative woman, the coach used his outdoor voice yet in a whimsical, lighthearted tone:
“Hey, what’s going on here?” he questioned.
The players, accustomed to following orders from their coach, now barked out the orders:
“You stay out of this, coach!”
“This is none of your business, coach.”
The homeowner expressed her appreciation by giving a few dollars to each boy. Later that day, rumors circulated that they’d seriously damaged a local restaurant’s inventory levels of chicken nuggets and French fries.
Help had been requested, provided, and appreciated. Strangers would forever become familiar faces—maybe even friends. Once again, the Agates Family expanded its reach.
Some days are better than others. This particular Saturday started well for everyone involved.
"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give."
To extend the concept of “FAMILY” beyond the playing fields to the rest of the community, athletes/cheerleaders/other students have assisted in many ways:
- Moving families from one place to another
- Moving furniture, such as a dresser, from one room to another or moving exercise equipment.
- Raised funds for AEDs (heart defibrillators) for the school by hosting and serving a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.
- Friends of the Library – Each October, the library has a sale of excess books. This occurs in a conference room at the hospital. The books are boxed at the library, carried out to vehicles, and transported to and from the hospital. Anyone who has moved books knows this is hard work. The kids do this.
- It’s a longstanding tradition for the Masonic Lodge to make, bake, and sell pasties. Cheerleaders spend the entire day in the kitchen at THHS to assist in the making of thousands of them. For every person who grew up in Two Harbors, the day our parents and grandparents brought those home for dinner was one of the greatest days of the year. For the record, the pasties with rutabaga in addition to potatoes are the best.
- Serving meals for Veteran’s Day—and other events at the American Legion Post
- Serving meals for various events at the local Moose Lodge.
- Shoveling snow for local senior citizens
- Supporting the event when “Thomas The Train” rolled into town
- Assisting annually with crowd management for Grandma’s Marathon, an event from Two Harbors to Duluth, with 8,000 runners in 2023.
- It’s not just the athletes: The high school choir visited with—and sang to, seniors at the Barross Cottage Senior Living Community.
- As they’ve done since 2014, the THHS Trap Team placed United States flags beside the graves of veterans at Lakeview Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2024.
- In June of 2024, organizers of “Grandma’s Marathon”—a race with nearly 7,000 humans willing to run—not drive—but run 26.2 miles from Two Harbors to Duluth needed volunteers to install hundreds of feet of snow fence for race security. The work involves pounding fence posts into the ground. It’s hard work. Ten volunteers stepped up and got the job done. The volunteers were cheerleaders.
Chase Pierce said, “I like seeing the recognition people get on the Facebook page. It makes me feel good that I could help someone get something done to improve their life.”
Amir Ali:
“I’d have to believe it makes the people we helped feel pretty good. Maybe we get a few more fans of our football team. It extends our bond from our locker room and our coaches out to the community, and then they feel closer to us, so we have more support. It just creates a better overall vibe for the town.”
Mike Pierce, Chase’s father:
“It’s great to see them volunteering. I know people appreciate it. I know how hard it is to just move across town.
Troy Carlson:
“It’s scary when you mis-maneuver something, and it bumps into their wall! We moved an elliptical from a garage to a basement. We made sure there was nothing on the walls. We had to take paintings down to ensure that if we did hit the wall, it wouldn’t break anything. There were five or six of us, but only three of us could carry it at any one time because there were some tight turns in the stairway.”
Staying true to his much-appreciated comedic form, Troy Carlson said, “It was difficult, but I think we’d all volunteer to move another elliptical machine again. We know how hard it is for us younger guys to do this.“ Then, while looking at the far end of the table at Do North, directly at his Athletic Director—Scott Ross, Carlson added, “We can imagine how hard it would be for someone as old as Mr. Ross to do this.“
Hoping to capitalize on his one-on-one time with his AD, Carlson asked, “Mr. Ross, when can we get a real playlist for basketball games? I don’t want songs from the 1940s. I want modern music.“
After overcoming his laughter, Ross cited a situation where he’d received a voicemail from a local resident requesting help. Less than two hours later, when he called the resident back for additional information, they already had a crew of guys who’d volunteered for the job. The resident’s daughter had contacted one of the coaches directly. The call went out. The volunteers signed up.
While pointing to the football players at the table, Ross said, “These guys are amazing.“
Even Troy Carlson.
It’s impossible to watch college football games without noticing that most colleges have their team logo and smaller helmet stickers indicative of the athletes’ achievements.
If you grew up in the Midwest in the 60s and 70s, one of your earliest exposures to helmet stickers occurred while watching the Woody Hayes-led Ohio State Buckeyes. Stars like Archie Griffin, Cornelius Greene, Jack Tatum, Jim Stillwagon, and Pete Johnson wore helmets covered with those flowery-looking stickers. Multiple sources—including the ultimate insider—Two Harbors native Jerry Emig, “Associate AD- Football Communications,” indicate that helmet stickers are currently awarded to Ohio State football players based on the following criteria:
- If Ohio State wins a conference game, each player is awarded two stickers.
- If Ohio State beats its biggest conference rival, the Michigan Wolverines, each player gets three helmet stickers.
- Each player also receives stickers based on achieving individual performance objectives.
That’s all good. The Two Harbors Agates award helmet stickers, too. The criteria are a bit different—none related to individual on-field performance.
- Community Service Hours
- Honor Roll
- Merit Roll
- Weight Room Participation
- Team Wins
The message the school administrator sends while requesting assistance from the student-athletes seems effective. Perhaps it’s a text message, something like:
“Is anyone available to help a resident move to an apartment on Saturday?”
If it isn’t already, perhaps the message should be:
“Is anyone available to make this town a better place to live?“
“Is anyone available to remind a resident they aren’t alone?“
“Is anyone available to make a difference in someone’s life?“
“Is anyone available to do something you’ll probably never forget?“
“Is anyone available to do something for a local resident that they will surely never forget?”
One family, who asked not to be identified, shared their thoughts:
“We hope the kids and coaches understand how much they are appreciated and how meaningful this is. It’s been years since they helped our family. Our appreciation hasn’t faded. We don’t take what they did for granted.
Like all of us, these kids will have ups and downs—some bad days. When they do, we hope they remember when they helped our family. We hope they remind themselves of the kindness they’ve offered others. We hope they know their kindness will forever be remembered and appreciated. Maybe it will serve as a boost for them. It sure has inspired us.
They moved our family member’s furniture from one apartment to another–the bed, dresser, clothes, desk, couch, and more. But this wasn’t about that couch. With each act of assistance, they unite this community. They are more than football players–they are good kids–learning important life lessons. Maybe even teaching adults some life lessons–like compassion and unselfishness. I wish we had done the same when we were their age. If one of the goals of their work is to illustrate the value of belonging to something bigger than themselves, then their mission was most certainly accomplished.
This town has something to be very proud of.”
In the early years of implementing the FAMILY concept, Coach Nelson decided to rally his athletes around the nobility of helping families move from one home to another. What was the deep-seated motivation for choosing that option? Honestly, I never asked him. It didn’t seem like a big deal.
Fifteen months after writing my first sentence, I made one final phone call. During that call, the pathway for Dot A to connect with Dot B, then Dot C became clear. I didn’t know I was missing a piece of the FAMILY puzzle. I accidentally found it. Everything finally made sense.
You’ll understand later in this story.
Agates Football - Community Builders
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All photos courtesy of the “Two Harbors Agates Football” Facebook page
Chapter 23: Checking the Boxes
"A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life."
Opportunities in this life are traditionally granted by how many boxes you can check. Are you this? Are you that? Do you know this? Do you know that? Have you done this? Have you done that? Each box checked opens another door. Unchecked boxes lead to speed bumps and dead ends. Individuals who might be capable of making a difference but unable to check that one key box are forced to knock on one dispiriting door after another—all while trying to find their place.
Then, someone comes along with their fingers on the societal scale of opportunity allocation—someone with a different view of the world and its people. They see individuals turned away and think:
“Maybe the problem isn’t the person. Maybe it’s the boxes.”
The scale-tippers associated with a football team in northern Minnesota follow a different methodology. Boxes traditionally reserved for rigid forms of pedigree-driven certification are supplemented with those representing empathetic forms of compassion. Rather than looking for ways to exclude, they make room at the table for those who can bring value to their team in non-traditional ways.
Sure, that “Did He Ever Play Football” box is on their list, but there are other boxes that most Head Coaches and Athletic Directors don’t include. Boxes like:
Does this person love football?
Can he make a difference in the lives of our team members?
Can we make a difference in his life?
Four individuals affiliated with the Agates’ coaching staff were able to handle those boxes with “check, check, and check.” None of those four individuals can check the following box:
“I Played High School Football”
Yet, at various intervals during the past 30 years, Todd Beck, Andrew Schreyer, Ben Eliason, and Kyle Anderson have adorned Agates’ attire on Friday nights while supporting the Two Harbors Agates football team and coaching staff.
For most, life isn’t best lived in isolation. It’s good to be part of something meaningful—something real—something fun. Listening to Kyle Anderson’s mom, Carol, is to understand that all those boxes are checked relative to Kyle’s affiliation with the Agates football team.
“We were just so fortunate to have raised him in Two Harbors. From elementary school on up, everyone has been so supportive. Even beyond Two Harbors, Kyle seems to know people from everywhere, all because of sports. There was a moment during Kyle’s senior year when he scored a three-pointer “granny style” at the end of a basketball game against Virginia. Their coach and team members understood what our coaching staff was trying to do and were “all in” with their support. When he made that basket, it meant so much to him, and it seemed to mean even more for Virginia players and coaches.”
“I can’t say enough about Coach Nelson and how he embraces the family concept. It’s just so huge because that’s exactly what it is. It’s “forget about me, I love you.” Kyle is now 34 years old. He didn’t go to school with any current football players, but they still have a strong connection. Last weekend, I asked Kyle what he’d miss most if he couldn’t be a manager anymore. Kyle loves football–he loves being at the games, but his answer was no surprise.”
“I’d miss my friends, Mom.”
Sophomore football player Zach Johnson said, “All I have to say is I love (those guys). They’re just the best. They’re super encouraging—nice—and funny. They are great to have around.”
Jake Widdes – Senior – Class of 2024:
“They add so much to our program in a way that most people don’t realize or wouldn’t think about. They add a lot of energy and take care of so many things to support us. It adds so much to our game. They’re so fun to have in the huddle during timeouts, and they just lighten the mood when you know things are going wrong. Coach Ben is out there providing his thoughts, and he’ll fix our equipment whenever we need it. They want to be active in our success, and having them there is so fun because they bring different elements and perspectives to our team. It just wouldn’t be the same without them.”
Josh Johnson added, “All I hear Kyle talking about is football! He’s probably the most bought-in person I’ve ever seen about this program. Kyle loves the team, loves everyone, and always talks about football. It doesn’t matter if it’s a high day, low day, win, or loss—he could put a smile on your face in just a few sentences. He’s an amazing person to have on the team, such an uplifting character, and someone who really improves our game by keeping us energized and not letting us give up. It’s awesome to have him on the team.”
They face the exact expectations as all team members, including discipline. During a game a few years ago, Todd and Kyle loudly expressed frustration with the team’s lackluster performance. Coach Nelson heard them voicing their frustrations.
Todd and Kyle watched the next two games from the bleachers while serving two-game suspensions. Coach Nelson offered them a “we’re all in this together and need to always support each other” speech, then suspended them.
This doesn’t prevail as a negative aspect of the story. Just the opposite. All of the guys involved look back and laugh about this learning experience. Carol Anderson appreciates that Kyle is held to the same standards as the football players. One everlasting takeaway is that the emotions expressed by Todd and Kyle exemplify how deeply they care about this team—and, in an unspoken way, how much they value their opportunity to be included.
Chase Pierce: “When they help us, it reminds us to always do the right thing and be better people, too. They’re just always positive—always encouraging us. We know that all of them want to help us. They’re constantly pushing us to do our best. They talk to us and listen to us. They are definitely contributing. It’s nice to know that even if they didn’t play on the varsity team when they were younger, they get to experience what it’s like to be part of a team like this. Our team wouldn’t be the same without Ben, Andrew, Kyle and Todd.”
Will Fransen agreed. “It’s nice to have so many people looking out for us. We know that all four have our back whenever we need them. They are always there for us on the sidelines to get us whatever we need. It’s nice to have these guys who never actually played football to have the chance to be part of this team. They always hype us up, and all our guys respect them.”
While talking to managers Ben Eliason and Andrew Schreyer, the word “opportunity” was often offered.
Eliason: “We’re like a big family. We work together as a team. We accept each other for who we are. Fridays allow us to come together and be a family, learning bonding skills in a safe, happy place. We work together and spend time together. If this didn’t exist, we’d lose all those opportunities. “
Regarding Tom Nelson, Ben said, “He was just what we needed. He also has all the assistant coaches on the same page. We are a family from the lowest on the totem pole to the top. No one is above another. Their titles might be different, but no one has been lowered. Everybody bought in, and everyone knows they gotta’ roll with it.”
Andrew Schreyer has been a manager for the past 18 years. He played youth football until a weight room injury sidelined him. He cited the importance of the many friends he’s made along the way—watching those kids grow and move on, some even coming back to town to coach.
“Now my wife is here, and she’s watching the games. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn and experience things few other people would allow you to participate in. It’s all about the word on our hats—FAMILY. Getting together and giving guys a chance. If I didn’t have this opportunity, I would find another thing to do, but it wouldn’t be as fun, and I guarantee you it wouldn’t be as rewarding.”
Schreyer, a talented musician, even helps the horns section of the band when they are shorthanded.
Josh Widdes – Special Teams Coach:
“They bring a couple different elements to the team. As a coach, they will do whatever they can to help. They are there for us with all the best intentions. It’s important for the boys because there are all sorts of people in this world from all walks of life, and it helps them realize that sometimes people have some challenges. It’s helped these young men accept these guys and accept all people.”
If anybody was ever to say or do anything negative to any of those guys, you’d have about 55 football players that would (fiercely defend them). “
The half-dozen football players sitting at the table with us all agreed with Coach Widdes.
This is a good family.
Meanwhile, if you ever need a boost, drive up to the North Shore, stop in Two Harbors, and ask someone if they know where to find Todd Beck. They’ll know. Sit down for a cup of coffee with Todd, then ask him how he feels about his decades of association with the Two Harbors Agates football team, which includes Tom Nelson, the assistant coaches, and all the players.
My brief encounters with Todd remind me of a specific line from my favorite scene in “After Life.”
“Happiness is amazing. It’s so amazing; it doesn’t matter if it’s yours or not.”
Two Harbors Agates football makes Todd happy…really, really happy. It’s contagious. For me, Todd Beck is a game-changer. He doesn’t know that. Nobody does. Well—nobody aside from you and me. He puts this world in perspective. His presence reminds me to appreciate the people I’m surrounded with, the opportunities I’ve been given, and the importance of belonging.
Todd checks the gratitude box with a big, bold, bright blue Sharpie.
With that, he reminds me to check that same box every single day.
Chapter 51: One More Call
JANUARY 5, 2025
I was done. Ready to publish this thing. Just to be sure, I reviewed my pile of notes from the past year. I was zipping through the checklist to ensure I’ve attempted to talk to everyone I was referred to.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check.
Check, check, check, check.
More than 100 checkmarks. Then, crap. There was a name whose phone number I never dialed. Heck, I didn’t even have his number. He’s not even from Two Harbors or Canadian. Forget it. I’m done. Who would even know I didn’t call? Only one person would know. That person was Tom Nelson.
I remember a journalist emphasizing the importance of making the next call. Keep digging. Report, report, report. Then those friends and family telling me to take as long as I need. Don’t rush it. Get the entire story. It will be ready when it’s ready.
I made that final phone call.
Fifty-two minutes later, I was drained. I’d heard about aspirations, opportunities, life, death, ups and downs, friendships, compassion, love, and families.
I’d just met Justin Voss, the Head Coach of the North Branch Vikings high school football team. North Branch is a town of 12,000 residents, 136 miles south of Two Harbors.
Several hours later, I’d learn that the timing of this conversation—the story’s final interview, was yet another unexplainable moment of fate. The stuff where they say, “You can’t make this up.”
The North Branch Vikings lost their season opener. Following the game, Voss shared his thoughts, then stepped away to give one of the captains the last words. Nolen Volner pulled the team together for a quick message. They’d lost. They were down. It was time to move forward—look ahead to next week, time to set the tone for the rest of the year. Nolen did what captains do.
“Alright, boys, bring it in. Hey, let this burn, man, let this burn. If we want to be champions, we’ve gotta come back from this even harder? Alright?
Volner then called for the traditional “breakdown.” All hands in.”Vikings on three.””1-2…”
Before saying “three,” something registered in Volner’s mind. He tried to stop everyone. Some teammates had already shouted, “3!” A few more got as far as “Vikings!”
Nolen wanted a do-over.
“Hold on, hold on. Family on three. 1-2-3…”
“FAMILY!”
I finished watching a year-end video of a football team from a small but growing town in central Minnesota. This was one of those year-end football videos prevalent in these modern times. An ancestor to those videos Steve Sabol created for NFL Films. The production value of the video produced by Jake Fenton Productions was high. Great soundtrack and audio quality. The latter allowed me to notice that every other sentence was spiked with these two words:
“Football Family”
Hmmm. I wonder where that came from?
During his sophomore year of attending college at the University of Minnesota—Duluth, Justin Voss was planning ahead. He knew he wanted to coach football. But he’s three hours from home and doesn’t know anyone. Justin had zero experience. Still, he had all he needed—a dream, motivation, courage, and a keyboard. He just wanted an opportunity.
Justin Voss emailed numerous coaches, none of whom had ever heard of him.
The first coach to respond was Tom Nelson in Two Harbors.
The only coach to respond was Tom Nelson in Two Harbors.
Sometimes, as I’ve learned, one response from an email is all it takes.
Nelson and Voss met at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth. Justin was invited to join the staff. He’d start as the Head Coach…of the Pony League team. Eleven and 12-year-olds. First football helmets, shoulder pads, and football jerseys. Their first steps towards becoming a Viking, or heaven forbid, a Packer. Ground floor stuff. Not much prestige. But a place where infinite impact is possible. Little kids, excited and scared. Justin Voss—you are their leader. Good luck, Justin! Oops, it’s now “Good luck, Coach Voss.”
How did the rookie coach do?
Spencer Ross, the son of Athletic Director Scott Ross and Agate Cheer coach Melanie Ross, turned the clock back a dozen years: “Having Coach Voss as a Pony League coach sparked my interest in football. As a kid, I didn’t take much interest in the sport. I enjoyed the atmosphere and being around my friends, but didn’t care much about football. I asked my dad if I could quit a few times (obviously, not an option). Coach Voss’s energy definitely helped shape my love for the game, which eventually gave me some of the best memories of my life.”
Justin arrived just in time for Spencer. Almost 4,000 high school varsity rushing yards and more than 50 touchdowns later, Spencer Ross graduated from THHS as one of the most highly honored football players to ever play next to Lake Superior.
Voss moved step-by-step up the ladder of the Agates coaching tree during his next three years in Two Harbors, then eventually became the head coach in North Branch, where during his first seven years, they’d win 48 games, three District championships, and earn two State Tournament appearances.
“Early on, Tom Nelson took me on a tour of Two Harbors. We eventually went up to the football stadium. Some kids were throwing the ball around, and they just gravitated towards him. Their respect for him was evident. They’d hug him, and you could see they mutually cared for each other. I’ve been on sports teams, so I know what this is typically like. I’ve had coaches who I care about, and they care about me, but this just had a different feeling.
That was the day Tom told me about the FAMILY concept.”
I interrupted Voss to share some perspective.
“Justin, I wrote elsewhere in this story that I doubted this was real when I first heard about the “FAMILY” concept. Just like other teams who boast with things like ‘One Team, One Dream, The Time is Now, Leave No Doubt, and Our Time, Our Team. I’ve seen too much of this virtue signaling. I wasn’t convinced there was any substance to what Nelson was doing in my hometown.”
Justin responded: “Exactly! You go to coaching clinics and hear slogans, and you wonder if this is just an expression without meaning. With Tom, oh my gosh, there is meaning.”
Then Voss did it himself.
“At North Branch, I tried to instill something similar. The first year, I tried “The Viking Creed,” the next year, it was “The Viking Way.” Neither got any traction.
I spent a lot of time on the phone that summer with Tom Nelson. We tried “FAMILY” in year three, and it’s stuck ever since. During my years with him in Two Harbors, I could be myself. I wasn’t going to be judged or criticized. I could just be who I am. He has that way of accepting a person for who they are. I thought, if I move forward with Nelson’s FAMILY concept, I’ll have to show those kids I’m all in. I’ll have to be vulnerable with them, just like Tom is up there. I’m going to have to show everyone what family means. After our first practice that year, I brought everyone together and told them, ‘I care about you and love you.’
It’s hard to say that word. It can make people uncomfortable. But I meant it. It felt so good to break through that bit of vulnerability. I said my true feelings in front of our guys, and, gosh, that is so powerful. I think it’s important for people to hear that word. Now, I say it all the time.
Those kids need to see that you’re human and to be able to own up to your mistakes and apologize. Kids need to know you’re walking with them, not pulling them. I saw Tom do all those things. I saw how important those handshakes, hugs, and words can be.
What an extraordinary thing when you can be completely vulnerable with someone. We lost a section final, and I cried with Tom. I’m a 36-year-old man. There’s that stigma of being a tough football coach, though that’s not my personality. I was on the phone with him. I cried and tried to talk. He just listened. He has such compassion. You can just be who you really are around him.
That was important because when I was on his coaching staff, I was trying to find out for myself. Who am I? What’s my true personality? I found those answers up there. He’s a goofy guy, too, so I could be that way, too. That’s who I am. Those four years were transformational for me.
He’s a humble person. Our teams have had some success down here. We went to state two years in a row. We were talking, and I just told him, ‘I want to thank you because we would not have had the success we’ve had in North Branch, and I wouldn’t be the coach I am without spending that time with you, learning from you, and seeing what an impact a coach can have on a person’s life beyond football.
And here we are today. We’re nowhere near what Tom has established in Two Harbors. It takes time. But we’re trying.”
Based on pictures I’ve seen, Voss seems to have FAMILY embroidered on every piece of apparel he owns.
It felt like Justin had waited years to be able to tell these stories. But I know for a fact he’s told them before. He’s just that enthusiastic about talking about all this. He kept going.
“I gotta’ tell you about one thing. I think it was in my second year up there. Tom told us about a family evicted from their home and needed to get out immediately. Like really quick. This was at 9:00 pm. We went up there—some football players and coaches, no questions asked. They didn’t have time to properly pack everything, so we helped gather everything together, pack it, or just load it onto the truck.
What a tough thing it must have been for a family to ask for help in that situation. They were in a tough spot, getting forced out of where they lived. Meanwhile, Tom tried to make this as easy as possible for them. He was so compassionate and reassuring. He said something like, ‘It’s OK, it’s OK. We’re going to help you out. We’re all part of this community. We’re gonna get this done for you. It will be OK.’
That family was so appreciative and so thankful.
It all comes back to that word, family. When you say it so often, it better have some meaning. He backs it up every time. It’s one thing to help those families, but he’s also teaching those kids that If you want a strong community, you have to give back—and they do it. He’s impacting lives beyond the football field. I’m guessing they have a lot of people who might have no relation to any of the players but go to games just because of that connection between that team and the community.”
Voss paused for a moment to decide which story to tell me next.
While he was doing that, I started connecting some dots. When Tom Nelson was four years old, his family lived in a place known as Isabella, Minnesota, with a population of 154, give or take a few. You don’t know where that is? Access Google Maps. Search for “Nowhere.” Smack-dab in the middle of that, you’ll find Isabella.
The Nelsons—mom, dad, and five kids, had planned a trip for the final week in March of 1975. When you’re four years old and travel to another state, it’s a big adventure–as consequential as Neil Armstrong flying to the moon. Days before their departure, a blizzard slammed the north shore of Lake Superior. Weather.gov describes it like this.
“A foot of snow and winds unofficially recorded in excess of 100 mph paralyzed the city of Duluth. Waves up to 20 feet pounded the Lake Superior shore, flooding basements and blowing out store windows. Waves and ice buckled metal and glass safety wall at a lakefront motel, forcing the evacuation of 10 rooms as knee-deep water flooded into hallways. Waves destroyed a 40-foot wall in Two Harbors, flooding municipal water pumping stations. Large chunks of beach along Lake Superior’s shore were washed away. Property damage reached up to $5 million.”
The Nelsons wouldn’t let a little blizzard prevent them from driving 150 miles south to temperate Webster, Wisconsin. There, they’d find jelly beans, pastel-colored eggs, marshmallow bunnies, and—most notably, grandma and grandpa.
Kids don’t forget stuff like that.
It was time to say goodbye then drive northward, to look out the window while crossing the “high bridge” above Saint Louis Bay, crossing the state line back into Minnesota, before turning the car onto Highway 61, then the long but scenic drive along the north shore of Lake Superior. The kids talked about building snowmen and snow forts back in Isabella. When they returned home, much of the snow was already gone. Melted. Melted not by the warmth of spring weather. It wasn’t time for that yet. That snow was melted by the heat of the fire which had burned their house to the ground.
Their home was gone. They’d lost everything.
Tom remembers picking through the rubble, trying to find anything that survived, those things he could take to whatever and wherever was next.
Kids can’t possibly forget stuff like that.
The proud Nelson family desperately needed help. Their five children would be dispersed among nearby families with extra beds, blankets, cereal, and soup bowls to provide comfort. Months would pass before the family would be reunited under the same roof.
Voss’s description of Nelson’s empathy and compassion with that evicted family finally lit 30-watt light bulb powering my brain. There are times in life when you’ve had to live it to know it. Nelson did, and Nelson does. He knows that feeling of desperation, of having to pick up the broken pieces of a life, then go start something new. He also remembers the kindness of friends and neighbors who didn’t have to help them but took extraordinary measures to do just that.
Young kids who grow to become football coaches don’t forget about stuff like that.
It’s no coincidence that a football team knocked on the door of that desperate family, ready to help them pick up and pack up the pieces of their life. No questions asked. No judgements made. Just there to help. It’s the neighborly thing to do. Compassion based on a shared experience.
The pieces of the Nelson puzzle now fit together.
Perfectly.
Justin Voss then recaptured my attention.
“Let me tell you one more story. We’d moved down to North Branch, and I was an assistant coach.”
Justin had been talking a mile a minute up until now. He paused, then cleared his throat.
“Our first child, Lincoln, passed away at birth. We knew it would happen—the doctors warned us in advance. That was just so very hard for us. Of course, I talked to Tom a few times during that process. This was at the end of July. Then, a month later, my niece was killed. The car she was riding in was hit by a semi. So we just had this extreme heartache in our family.”
I’d been gone from Two Harbors for four or five years, so I didn’t know many current players or their families. That didn’t matter to Tom. He was already planning to honor Lincoln at a forthcoming game.
As a result of the accident, my cousin and her husband were still in the hospital in Iowa, and we needed to be with them. So, we couldn’t be at the game in Two Harbors, but they moved forward with the event anyway. He didn’t have to do that. He’d already expressed his condolences to us. He could have just talked to his players then left it at that. But he went a step further, made it a community thing to help someone who was once part of Two Harbors football.
Talk about heartwarming—this is a community that doesn’t even know me anymore, but they passed the bucket around and raised hundreds of dollars, which we donated to the “Lay Me Down To Sleep” organization to support other families who endure losing a child like this.
“Before the game, each football player wrote Lincoln’s initials on white athletic tape, then wrapped that tape around their wrists. Lincoln–our son Lincoln–was with them that night on that field in Two Harbors.
The man cares about people.”
Justin had one more story to tell. During one of their earliest conversations—if not the first conversation, Nelson told Voss he could temporarily stay with his family while he got settled. That was a bit puzzling to me until I connected those dots back to Isabella.
“I never moved in with them, but I often stayed up there. After games on Friday night in Two Harbors, or if our bus returned late from a road game, I’d stay overnight with them instead of driving back to Duluth. I’d wake up on Saturday, and their five kids always want to play. It was so much fun. In a way, I was still a kid too. I was still growing up. His kids are teenagers now. It won’t be long before Tom and Angie are empty-nesters.
Last summer, Erin and I took our six-year-old daughter and three-year-old son up there and spent several days with the Nelson family at the lake. I used to play with his kids. Now, his kids were playing with mine.
We sat back and watched. Full-circle stuff right there in front of us.”
I mistakenly thought I had all the puzzle pieces but Voss had a few stashed in his pocket. They’re together now. All in the right place. No loose ends. It’s nice to look at a puzzle after it all comes together. This puzzle was initially a challenge to assemble. Now that it’s done, I’ve caught myself repeatedly out the window at Starbucks, taking a deep breath while thinking, “I get it now. I finally understand.”
Then something happens when a new piece of the puzzle is thrown on the table. You realize this story isn’t over. It keeps changing. More pieces, more chapters.
I spent 52 minutes on the phone that day with Justin. A few text messages followed:
12:42 pm
“Thanks Justin. Nice visiting with you. Stay tuned.”
1:33 pm
“Yes, great chatting with you! Thanks for taking the time! Excited to read the article.”
2:13 pm
“I just watched most of that movie. Great job by Jake Fenton to put that together. Nice job of leading your team…but you really need to come out of your shell! 😊 😊 😊”
2:43 pm (Justin)
“I know—I was a little camera shy! 🙂
“This is incredible timing—I got a call from the Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) about an hour ago and Tom Nelson is this years “Jerry Kill Power of Influence Award” winner! I nominated him 12 years ago and he was picked this year—such a great honor for Tom, and well deserving!
Just wanted to share!”
3:18 pm (Me)
“Wow. Wow. Wow. I’m going to send you something.”
3:21 pm
(I attached a link to the story from 2021 announcing that Andy Cavalier was awarded the “Coaching Beyond the Game Award” in Texas). I added the following:
“One of the amazing things about Cavalier’s award is that he wasn’t even a head coach of football when he received this award. But his reputation is off the charts. The funny thing is that I hadn’t even heard of him before sending an email to him about the story and asking if I could come down to his town.”
3:44 pm (Justin)
“Now that is incredible! This story was meant to be!”
From the MFCA website:
“The award honors a deserving high school football head coach for his effect on his players, school and community. The selected coach embodies the life-changing qualities of respect and inspiration, and has caused student-athletes and others to want to emulate their honesty, patience and modesty. Their positive influence is reflected in their community service, their mentoring and role modeling, and finally, measured by the lives he has touched and changed.”
“Coach Nelson will receive this award at the annual MFCA banquet on March 29.”
Justin Voss sent an email to numerous coaches in Minnesota. One responded. That person changed his life.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, I was in Canadian to attend the “Way of the Wildcats” camp. I’d cross paths again that day with Andy Cavalier. I’d meet his mom, Kathy. I’d meet Luke, Mandy, and Kevin Flowers. And the camp leaders, Wyatt, Max, Blake, Emiliano, and Clay. And Braiden Galla. When I entered a local restaurant for lunch, I’d once again see Chris and Rosemary Koetting.
But while I was still snoring, hours before eating my Fruit Loops, Coach Cav was a mile away, standing beside Miles P. Henderson Field House, recording the following message to be shared on social media:
“Good morning, T-G-I-T, Thank God It’s Today.
Right?
We’ve been given this day to do with it as we choose. Make the most of it. And make no bones about it, guys—it’s not just coincidence—the people that your life has intersected with are there for a reason. For you to get better and for you to help them get better. For us to have a positive impact on each other. So let’s go about doing it today.
“Take the opportunity to look for opportunities. Keep your head on the swivel and recognize the opportunities when they show up. Then act on the opportunities to make somebody’s day today. You can do it. It doesn’t take a lot. Look for them and act on them.”
“Here we go back into “Legacy” by James Kerr, “What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life.”
I’m absolutely loving this. Listen to this part from Bill Walsh. When the environment is dedicated to learning, the score, as Bill Walsh says, takes care of itself. Leaders and teachers—our job is to lead people through uncertainty and confusion and into self knowledge and self possession. The ability to help the people around me self actualize their goals” says Walsh, “underlies the single aspect of my abilities and the label that I value most: teacher.”
“Wooo!”
“A teacher! Sometimes it only takes one encounter, one teacher, to change a life and many lives after that.”
“Yes!”
“Is there a more noble place in our local communities than our teachers and our coaches” I don’t know. There are varying opinions on that, but I do know this—as a teacher and as a coach, we can have the kind of impact on the future of our communities that few get to have. So, let’s make the most of every opportunity we get.”
<then the Coach Cav train whistle>
“Come on, man—let’s go to work!!”
Andy Cavalier: the 2021 recipient of the “Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game Award” in Texas.
Tom Nelson: the 2025 recipient of the “Jerry Kill Power of Influence Award” in Minnesota
What is going on here? What were the chances that I’d cross paths with these two coaches? I’ll need one of those Slide Rule champs in Canadian to calculate the odds.
I typed Cavalier’s words, then reread them:
“The people your life has intersected with are there for a reason.
“Sometimes it only takes one encounter, one teacher, to change a life and many lives after that.”
Then, I think about Justin Voss’s words: “Meant to be.”
Meant to be, meant to be…good grief, could it be that this was meant to be.
View Coach Cavalier's video by clicking either link below.
Photo Credits: Jake Fenton Productions
The Nelson Family / Two Harbors, Minnesota
Photo Credit: DMP Sports, Derek Montgomery
If you're interested in reading the entire story, please click on the image below.Thank you.
Contributors
Thank you to everyone for their contributions, guidance, and patience:
Special thanks to these four people without whom this story couldn’t have been written:
Tom Nelson – Head Coach, Football, Two Harbors Agates
Angie Nelson – Football Wife, Mother of five, Good Citizen
Scott Ross – Activities Director, Lifelong Friend
Melanie Ross – Cheerleading Coach, School Librarian, Alleged Saint
COVER PICTURE PAINTING
Brooklyn Nelson
ACTIVITIES DIRECTORS – Two Harbors Co-op
Kevin Snyder – Marshall School, Duluth, MN
Melissa Milroy – Lakeview Christian Academy, Duluth, MN
CHECK THE BOXES
Kyle Anderson – Coaching Staff
Todd Beck – Coaching Staff
Andrew Schreyer – Coaching Staff
Ben Eliason – Coaching Staff
Carol Anderson – Parent
AGATES COACHES+SUPPORT
Andy Morsette – Assistant Coach
Bill Anderson – Assistant Football Coach, Boys Basketball Coach
Josh Widdes – “Just an Assistant Coach”
Ryan McIntyre – Assistant Coach – Statistician
Scott Libal – Assistant Coach
COLOR GUARD – ANDERSON CLAFFY POST 154, TWO HARBORS
Jim Latvala
Scott Adams
Rey Lakso
67 SECONDS
Aaron Churness
Alec Churness
Emma Churness
Katelin Johnson
CHEERLEADERS SECTIONS
Atlanta Ness
Emma Churness
Emma Grover – Carlton/Wrenshall Girls Basketball
Heidi Holbeck
Max Byzewski – Cheerleader
Savannah Anderson – Cheerleader
Tina Marie Beck-Jones
Melanie Ross – Advisor
FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Amir Ali
Troy Carlson
Tommy DeChantal
Hugo Helstrom
Josh Johnson
Zach Johnson
Trenton Meeks
Scout Pfeffer
Chase Pierce
Jake Widdes
Thank You
Thanks to my wife, Vickie, for her endless support throughout this process including her understanding of my need for short-notice road trips.
Thanks to my mom, Carol Davis Healy, for her everlasting encouragement to keep writing. Someday, I might actually start believing, like you, that I’m a writer.
