With only 32 head coaches in the National Football League, opportunities are rare for head coaching positions.

On Dec. 16 the opportunity came for former Dragon quarterback Marc Trestman when he was introduced as the Chicago Bears head coach.

“It spotlights the success that people have had in the program,” said Steve Laqua, MSUM head football coach. “It shows the success of the (football) program.”

Trestman was the starting quarterback for the Dragons during the 1978 season, when the Dragons went 6-5.

After playing for the Dragons, Trestman went on to be both an assistant coach in the NFL and a head coach in the Canadian Football League before the Bears selected him as their next head coach.

Laqua credits the relationship with former coach Ross Fortier as a part of Trestman’s successful coaching career.

“It wasn’t all perfect,” Laqua said. “He had his struggles but he stuck with it and he did achieve success.”

Laqua said he hopes that it shows current student athletes that someone who walked the same sidewalks as they are walking now can achieve a high level of success.

“Everything may not go perfectly in your time here but what you learn from that and react to it can certainly help you along the way … this time is to learn how to get the skills and life after college,” Laqua said.

Not only does the hiring of Trestman help the football program it can also help with recruiting potential student athletes for the upcoming seasons.

“It’s a feather in your hat,” Laqua said.

Athletic director Doug Peters agreed with the sentiments of Laqua.

“He is very well respected, whenever one of our alum achieves success we are jumping up and down,” Peters said.

“This reminds people of the rich tradition, with recruiting and that (Trestman’s hiring) shows that our program has produced NFL caliber players.”

BY BREANN LENZMEIER
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