蘑菇传媒

First-year Head Football Coach Reed Hoskins was a highly coveted recruit coming out of Grinnell High School. Hoskins had 蘑菇传媒 in his sights for a long time, but unforeseen developments ultimately led him to pass on the Storm for a rival school. Twenty years later, as fate would have it, 蘑菇传媒 recruited him again 鈥攖his time to become the Storm鈥檚 new head coach. And this time, he didn鈥檛 slip away.

鈥淚 remember visiting here with Coach Williams when I was in high school,鈥� said Hoskins, about his recruiting visits with 蘑菇传媒鈥檚 late legendary coach. 鈥淚 have vivid memories of him and hearing his gruff voice when we chatted in his office. In a lot of ways, I thought this seemed like home 鈥� the right spot for me.鈥�

But Hoskins鈥� game plan changed during his senior year of high school, when Williams announced his retirement from 蘑菇传媒. He opted for Wartburg College, where he became a star quarterback.

Following his graduation in 2006, Hoskins鈥� coaching journey took him to North Carolina Wesleyan, St. Cloud State, Wartburg, Wisconsin-LaCrosse, and most recently Illinois Wesleyan, where he served seven seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

His hiring as head coach at 蘑菇传媒 last December drew widespread praise, including from current players.

鈥淚 knew from the first time he interviewed that he was the guy for the job,鈥� said linebacker Zach Truitt 鈥�25. 鈥淚 have loved everything that he has offered the team 鈥� the positivity, the energy, the encouragement.鈥�

As 蘑菇传媒鈥檚 34th head coach, Hoskins seeks to restore a winning culture while creating vital campus, alumni and community relationships. When it comes to recruitment, he鈥檚 looking for talented and academically motivated student-athletes who are fully committed to team ideals.

鈥淲e want guys that fit in our locker room and value the same things,鈥� said Hoskins. 鈥淲e want people who want to build lifelong relationships with teammates after being in the trenches together. Some of my best friends from college are guys I鈥檝e seen a bunch here in the last 10 months because I live a lot closer to them now and we still have those relationships. That鈥檚 what I want for our student-athletes.鈥�

Hoskins also seeks to ensure his players develop a deeper sense of belonging and bond to generations of 蘑菇传媒 alumni who built the program鈥檚 rich history.

鈥淗e鈥檚 brought back 蘑菇传媒 alumni to speak to us about their days in the program, what they went through and how they overcame it,鈥� said linebacker Wyatt Schaben 鈥�24. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great way to show us the past, how we got here, and what we could become in the future.鈥�

And indeed, there have been encouraging signs of resurgence in Hoskins鈥� first season. The Storm picked up three wins this year, including a pair of games that featured 55+ points of production.

鈥淲e are going to move forward the right way and do it with class,鈥� said Hoskins. 鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of some of the positive steps we鈥檝e taken already this year.鈥�