Ehret tries to bring football success to Hale

West Allis - Brandon Ehret enjoyed success in playing football in both high school and college, and now he is hoping to bring his winning edge to the West Allis Hale program.

Ehret was named the new head coach for the Huskies last week, replacing Sean Hegarty, who resigned after two seasons to spend more time with his family. Ehret is a physical education and health education teacher at Hale.

"I am extremely excited about this opportunity," Ehret said. "It's a dream come true to coach at the same school in which I teach. I look forward to improving the future of the Huskies' football program."

The 28-year-old Ehret knows just what he needs to do to turn around the fortunes of the Huskies, who have not posted a winning record since 2008.

"My main focus will be to change the culture of the program," he continued. "I want to make winning the top priority. To do that, we have to 'win' in the off-season. We have to become bigger, faster and stronger, and we need to build self-confidence in the weight room."

He feels he has the background to get his message across.

"I will lead by example and show our athletes what it takes to be successful," he said.

Success is definitely part of his profile. Ehret competed in football, basketball and track at Clinton High School, near Beloit, and earned two-way all-conference honors in football as a running back and linebacker.

He then moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he was a four-year letterman and an all-conference selection at linebacker as a junior and senior. He was a team captain as a senior and was named the team's most valuable defensive player in his junior and senior seasons before graduating in 2006.

He then taught and coached at South Milwaukee High School from 2007-09, serving as a football varsity assistant and linebackers coach.

Ehret joined the West Allis School District in 2009 and was on Hegarty's staff as head junior varsity coach and linebackers coach.

"I want to improve my players as students, athletes and individuals," Ehret said. "I will stress the importance of academics. I believe you should be champions on the field and in the classroom. I will be positive and enthusiastic and looking to motivate people.

"I also want to improve their character as far as accountability, responsibility and honesty."

District Athletic Administrator Blain Fowler said: "We are excited to have a football coach who is ready for the challenge to lead Hale High School to success in the Greater Metro Conference. In coach Ehret, we have a coach who is not only extremely knowledgeable about the sport but is passionate about Hale and determined to have success at our school."

Ehret realizes the job will be not be easy, especially in the rugged and deep GMC.

"This is a tough conference," he said. "Week in and week out, you've got to be prepared. We look forward to the challenge."