Central Lakes College Raiders Football: A Legacy of Opportunity and Development
Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd and Staples, Minnesota, stands as a public community college within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Beyond its academic offerings spanning liberal arts, sciences, and technical programs, CLC is home to the Raiders, competing in NJCAA sports like volleyball, football, basketball, baseball, softball, and clay target. At the heart of the Raiders football program is a philosophy deeply rooted in student development and community connection, a vision championed by Head Coach Greg Medeck.
Greg Medeck: A Coach Rooted in CLC
Greg Medeck, now in his 15th season as head coach (with one year spent on sabbatical and another lost to COVID-19), embodies the spirit of CLC football. His impressive record includes seven state championship appearances, six bowl game appearances, and a 100-31 career record. Despite attracting attention from four-year institutions, Medeck remains dedicated to CLC.
Medeck's connection to CLC extends beyond his coaching tenure. He played for the Raiders from 1997-98 before transferring to St. Olaf College, later returning as an assistant coach before taking the head coaching position in 2007. He credits his time as a player as pivotal in his development into adulthood.
Medeck emphasizes the importance of junior college football, viewing it as a life-changing opportunity for young men. He is thankful for the support of the administration.
CLC President Hara Charlier emphasizes that athletics are extensions of the classroom. She believes they’re vital to CLC’s mission statement as they provide opportunities for students to serve as leaders, build character and provide a sense of campus and community pride. She also believes having athletics on campus gives students the full college experience.
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Medeck values his teaching position and his contribution to CLC’s mission in diverse ways.
Charlier said faculty are critical partners in building futures. She also said that Medeck is an inspiring instructor, a trusted leader on campus and a passionate advocate for student success.
Medeck also values the Brainerd lakes area as does his family. He wants to raise his children here.
More Than Just a Coach: Mentorship and Community
Medeck dislikes being solely labeled a coach, emphasizing his broader contributions to CLC. He prioritizes mentorship and education within his coaching staff, seeking individuals with backgrounds in education. He intentionally tries to surround himself with good people who can help support things in a healthy and productive manner.
Shane Jordan, an assistant coach alongside Riley Atkinson, Jordan Getty, Dave Bostrom and Troy Schreifels, echoes this sentiment: “He’s such a people first and education first coach,” Jordan said. “Football is a huge part of his life and a huge part of what his role is at Central Lakes College, but he understands it’s about people first and building relationships. He uses the game of football to teach life lessons and how to just be better people. The young men that we work with are 18-, 19 years old and they’re just trying to find their way.
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Jordan said along with being a player-coach, Medeck also knows football. Throw in the other intangibles and Jordan knows why Medeck is sought after by larger programs.
Medeck's primary focus is on developing young adults, not just winning games or producing Division I prospects. “It’s not fancy to say, but it’s just working with the kids,” Medeck said. “Just developing those relationships. I believe that I get to work with such a broad array of young men that come from lots of different backgrounds and lots of different interests and you get to put them together with this common theme of football. We get such a short, short window to work with them, but it’s such a pivotal point in their lives. The young men that we work with are 18-19 years old and they’re just trying to find their way. They’re off on their own for the first time and this football program gets to be a compass for them and keep them on point and moving in the right direction or help them find their direction in life. That part is really fun.”
Defining Success: Beyond Statistics
Medeck doesn’t know or even care how many of his players have gone on to play at a four-year college or have continued their football careers. His quick guess is the number is approaching triple digits. But he doesn't care. He doesn’t keep track. While other junior college football programs predicate their success on wins and advancing players' careers, those statistics are far down on the list of priorities at CLC.
“That’s a byproduct of being part of our program, not a goal that we set,” Medeck said. “It’s just not the way I look at it.“I’m more into caretaking the individual while they’re here and preparing them in case they get an opportunity. I’m not a marketer. I’m not much of a recruiter either. I’m just being honest with you. That’s not who I am. I get lucky sometimes just by surrounding myself with good people. My job in our football program is not simply just to move players to the next level. It happens. It’s a byproduct.
Medeck defines the program's purpose as delivering an exceptional experience that changes lives. Medeck’s job is to serve 60 players by creating an experience or program his student-athletes can take ownership of and build pride from.
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“Never get hung up on results,” Medeck said. “Shoot, we lost more games than we won this last year. That’s not reflective of the program that we run or the things that we do. We provide an exceptional experience with great people. The scoreboard didn’t work out the way that we’re accustomed to previously, but it didn’t diminish our season at all.”
In his words, the purpose of the CLC football program is to develop and deliver an exceptional experience that changes people’s lives.
Recruiting Philosophy: Building Local Connections
Last season, Medeck’s first after two years away from the sidelines, the Raiders finished 3-6. After starting 0-3, CLC was 3-3. Helping this year is Medeck’s approach to recruiting. As stated before, he does not like to recruit. Instead, he leans on the relationship he builds with area coaches. He also hopes by creating positive experiences for current and former players word of mouth does all the recruiting he needs.
“I honestly believe our best work when it comes to recruiting is done on a referral-based process,” Medeck said. “I want to continue to recruit the same schools. I want to have a huge footprint in central Minnesota. We almost virtually shut down our borders and we’re just recruiting almost Minnesota completely. I think that’s the way to do it. We want to attract young men to our program who feel connected to our campus, our community and our program altogether. This is not just a transitory place, but a place where they feel welcomed and can put down some roots. Even if they’re short-term.”
Medeck understands that CLC is not always the first choice for players. He believes if a student-athlete comes to play football at CLC he’ll be invested in and taken care of.
“One of the great benefits of my job is that we don’t have to get caught up in the measurables of success,” Medeck said. “We are not worried about being judged by the same standards as larger programs. What makes it special here is different than at other places where certain goals must be met or you are not considered successful.“Are you a great teammate? Are you committed to your academics? Can you be a steward of our program here? Can you be involved in our community and take pride in that? And can you play a little bit? Can we get you on the field in a way that contributes to the game?
Joining the Raiders: Building a Future
For prospective student-athletes interested in joining the Central Lakes College - Brainerd Football program, key personnel to contact include Assistant Coach (Running Backs) Ben Wallace, Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs) Brandon Boyett, Assistant Coach (Offensive Line) Gabriel Brown, Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers) Lonnel Harrison, Head Coach (Offensive Coordinator) Toby Thurman.
NCSA offers student student athletes the information and tools they need to enhance their chances of being recruited by a Football program, whether it's at Central Lakes College - Brainerd or another school. Since 2000, NCSA has been connecting coaches and athletes which is a vital component of the recruiting process. This year alone you'll find 127627 Football high school athletes utilizing the NCSA network, technology and scouting professionals to get their highlights before 5112 coaches at 1790 colleges Football programs nationwide.
If you want to join the Central Lakes College - Brainerd Football program you need to start building relationships and a highly-visible, professional quality recruiting profile. Starting that process as soon as possible is crucial to your success. So make your free profile to become a verified NCSA Football athlete and start connecting with coaches at the Central Lakes College - Brainerd Football program today.
A Legacy of Transformation
Whether you attended Staples Technical College, Brainerd Technical College, Brainerd Junior College, or Brainerd Community College, you are considered an alumni of Central Lakes College. In 1995, all of these colleges merged to form what is now called Central Lakes College with campuses in Brainerd and Staples.
Alumni often credit Central Lakes College with a transformative effect on their lives, citing influential instructors, empathetic counselors, and nurturing environments as key factors in their success.
The Central Lakes College Alumni Association aims to maintain connections with alumni and enrich the college through ongoing engagement, offering lifelong connections and various benefits.
Staying Connected and Involved
Graduates can remain active in the Central Lakes College community through various avenues, including:
- Updating alumni profiles to stay informed about college news and events.
- Attending alumni events and networking opportunities.
- Supporting the college through donations or volunteer work.
- Mentoring current students and sharing their experiences.
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