Before he came to Coeur d'Alene in 1994 and built the Lake City High football program into the state power it is today, Van Troxel made a name for himself in Montana.

After graduating from Moscow High in 1972, where he was a three-sport athlete (and was a starting guard on the Bears' basketball state title team as a senior), Troxel played quarterback at the University of Montana from 1972-75.

After graduating from Montana in the spring of 1977, Troxel began his teaching and coaching career that fall at Nampa High.

One year later, Troxel returned to Montana and was head football coach for two seasons at Hamilton High. In 1980, he took a job as assistant football coach and P.E. teacher at Big Sky, Missoula's newest high school, including a pair of state titles, a pair of state runner-up finishes, and six other appearances in the state semifinals.

All told, after last year's 9-2 season, Troxel has a head coaching record of 140-78-1 in 21 seasons at Lake City, and 217-157-1 in 36 seasons overall as a head coach.

On Saturday, Troxel, 61, will be one of four people inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame, during the 53rd Idaho Sports Banquet at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn.

Here's some recollections of his journey from there to here, as told by a handful of folks - his wife, Karen Troxel, who has been principal at Atlas Elementary for four years, and has been in education for 34 years; Russ Blank, who played against him in Montana, then coached with him in Montana and still coaches with him at Lake City; and three seniors from last fall's Timberwolf football team that reached the state 5A semifinals - quarterback Michael Goggin, fullback Connor Newby and do-everything back Jerry Louie-McGee.

Karen Troxel: Van and I have been married 40 years. We met at the University of Montana. Van always wanted to build his own program and be a head coach. He took the job at Nampa because it was the first opportunity he had coming out of college. We ended up moving to Hamilton because it was an opportunity to be a head coach and it was back in Montana. After two years he left to take an assistant job at Big Sky High School because he felt like it would give him an opportunity to work in a AA program, and we wanted to live in Missoula. All along he wanted to be a head coach.

Russ Blank: I knew of Van before I met him as he was the crosstown rival coach for Hellgate High School when I was playing football at Sentinel High School in Missoula (1983). They had a team that had won just 1 game (against Big Sky) and they were 1-8; we were 8-0. They beat us 14-13 and claimed the city title and we went on to the playoffs to lose in the first round to C.M. Russell. Anyway, Trox's team at Hellgate ruined our perfect season.

Later that year I learned more about Van at track practices because Sentinel and Hellgate practiced together every day. I was pole vaulting (laying on the pads most of the time) watching Van torture his Hellgate sprinters each day. They would run and run and get sick and run some more. You could imagine his voice echoing around the track "encouraging" those runners. I thought, "this guy is insane." After graduating from Montana, I began coaching pole vault at Hellgate under head coach Ron Jones where Van was still coaching sprinters ('88). I got to know Van better now as we worked together on staff. I began to understand his militant work ethic and started to see how he helped transform average performers into competitive athletes. Later, I joined Van's football staff as a freshman coach ('91-93) due to our relationship from track.

Karen Troxel: When the Lake City job came up he felt like this was the perfect opportunity to build a program from the ground floor. This was a difficult decision since our family was settled in Missoula, my home town. But it was a perfect opportunity for him.

Russ Blank: I was student teaching at Hellgate in the spring of '94 when Van landed the Lake City job. He knew I was looking for a teaching/coaching job and he asked me to join him at the new high school in Idaho. I came over to interview and got the job in '94. The other Hellgate coaches commented, "You'd better be ready to work because that guy will work." It wasn't tough for me to leave Hellgate, but it was for Van in the fact that he left a team that went 11-1 in '94 and was second in the state - and we went 0-9 at Lake City.

Michael Goggin: He's meant a lot these past four years. He's been like my second dad; all the hours I've spent with him. He's definitely taught me a lot, not just the football side; life, he's helped a lot.

Russ Blank: For 18 years I was the defensive coordinator where we put together two state titles in '02 and '06. Doug Cox was my mentor and taught me much of what I know defensively. We changed defenses in '98 from a 4-4 to a 4-3 and then added 3-5 in '04. The last two years I've served as receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator with Van. We stated a new offense in '13 with a modified spread and it's been a great learning experience and very successful. It's also been challenging because now I'm working with Van, who has over 40 years of football plays in his head ... that's a big playbook. Nevertheless, we broke passing, scoring and yardage school records in the last two years.

Connor Newby: He's been an outstanding person to have in my life. He's really helped shape who I am. It's not all about sports, it's about creating a better young man for the society and being respectful of everyone ... he just makes you want to be a better person all around.

Russ Blank: I didn't know we would have the successes we've had as coaches. I think like most coaches I suppose - you set goals, work hard to implement them, develop athletes, hope and pray for athletes, and put your product out there and compete.

Jerry Louie-McGee: He's like a second dad. Coming from 8-man (at Lakeside High) up to 11-man, he's taught me so much. He helped me out a lot as far as fitting in; he's a great guy. Instead of just a football player, he tries to make you into a better person, and man. He cares about you with your grades, your family.

Russ Blank: Van is a special coach because he cares about developing kids. I've watched him over and over take an average or below-skilled student and help change that student into a varsity starter. Not just physically though, but also mentally. His teaching on morals, work ethic, discipline, and "doing the little things right" can be heard in every one of his daily speeches. Van is also special because he is consistent - every day you get the same thing - intensity, energy, diligence, militant, and fairness. The unique thing about Van with all this is that he gives this effort in his daily classroom (the weight room) to ALL the students - not just football players, or coaching football. As far as football, his main mission is to develop high school boys into young men who will be good husbands, business leaders, fathers, and friends because of what they have learned through their years of Lake City football under coach Van Troxel.

Karen Troxel: The one reason Van coaches is for kids and this is the reason he stays. It is not about only the star players but all the other kids in his program and in his weight classes. It has never been about him. He is an wonderful, husband, father and grandfather and his family means the world to him.

Russ Blank: You've got to have thick skin (he's an equal opportunity yeller). You've got to speak your mind. And you've got to love football because anyone who knows him, knows that he loves the game, the process, and the journey of football.

By the way, a few years ago Van was cleaning out his office and presented me with a 1983 game ball from Hellgate High School signed by every player ... Hellgate 14, Sentinel 13. He thought he was real funny.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.