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Vol. 54, No. 35
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Warsaw football family humbled by coaching awards Text and Photos
By NATHAN PACE Staff Writer The 2024 season was one for the history books at Warsaw but head coach Bart Curtis and his son and offensive coordinator, Michael Curtis, were not ready for what came next. The two received coaching awards after Warsaw concluded its state runner-up season. Bart Curtis received the Jim Andrews Coach of the Year award and Michael Curtis was named Paul Loggan Assistant Coach of the Year. “To have the name Jim Andrews on a plaque, have that presented to me is special because he was my high school coach. Just humbling to me,” Bart Curtis said. The Jim Andrews Coach of the Year award is for the local northern Indiana district of roughly 30 schools and was voted on by members of the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Michael Curtis’s assistant coaching award is for the entire state, also through the IFCA. “First off, I was embarrassed extensively. There are way more deserving guys they can give this to,” Michael Curtis said. “After that, I was really proud of the group of guys that I worked with. These awards are other people’s interpretations of ‘Hey, Warsaw, they do things the right way.’ Really the award is a team award.” Michael Curtis played for his dad for three seasons at Mishawaka. They originally thought New Prairie would be their destination as Bart Curtis coached the Cougars for 11 years until the Mishawaka job came calling. After graduating, Michael Curtis played college football at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and he later started a coaching job at Warsaw for Coach Phil Jensen. When Jensen retired in 2017, Michael Curtis talked to his dad about the opportunity. “My dad and I had talked back and forth, ‘Hey this could be a really nice deal. Warsaw is kind of a sleeping giant,’” Michael Curtis said. “Eventually, those conversations turn from ‘I hope they find the right guy’ to ‘What if I take the job.’” Bart Curtis accepted the head coaching job at Warsaw seven years ago in February of 2018. At the time, he was still working as an assistant principal at Misha-
waka and trusted Michael Curtis to be his man on the ground during the first off season. The timing for Michael Curtis was instrumental as he was receiving interest from schools in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Once his dad took the job, Michael Curtis focused on AWARD PRES ENTATION — left, is formal Warsaw offens staying in Warly presented th ive coordinato e Paul Loggan plaque from hi r Michael Cur saw and met his Assistant Coa s father and he tis, ch of the Year ad coach Bart wife, Maggie. Award Curtis. “Within in two months, he took the job here, and I also met my wife down in Warsaw. It just kind seemed like the stars all aligned to make this our home. It’s a great town. It’s a sports town, which we saw this past year with how excited and just full of love for this program that the community showed. It was incredible,” Michael Curtis said. ol football players hold The two had Community High Scho w rsa Wa — ER TIG E YEAR OF TH to learn how to wasee this past season. trophy after beating Wa ” “W the up work together as coaches after years where Michael Curtis was a player. path. Which was be harder on the kids. Raise “It was a unique transition coaching with our expectations more. Be vigilant and diligent Mike. I think there are times he probably feels in what we do and who we are,” Bart Curtis said. that I am still the head coach and he’s the playWarsaw would win seven straight games, er. I think that has gotten better and better,” including four wins in the Class 5A tournament. Bart Curtis said. It was in the state tournament where the toughIn 2019, Warsaw won a long-awaited er schedule by adding Warren Central paid off. sectional title and the 2024 season be“We were still able to honestly say to them came one of high expectations. The you have seen the best defense that you will see team was excited to play Warren all year. Six or seven of their players were going Central Aug. 30, for a rare chance to play division I football,” Michael Curtis said. at an Indianapolis school. The Warsaw beat Merrillville 31-14 Nov. 22 result didn’t go well as War- for its first-ever trip to the state championship saw lost 34-0 and started the game. year 3-3. Warsaw fell to Decatur Central 38-24 in “There was a time the title game at Lucas Oil Stadium. where we were 3-3 and The two found out a few weeks later about not playing very good the season awards as Bart Curtis appreciates ball and we’re banged the work his son has done as offensive coordiup. We had a lot of nator. built-in excuses that “I can’t tell you how proud I am to see his were there if we chose hard work be recognized by key figures in key to take them. Instead, coaches. This is one that is voted on by your we took a different peers,” Bart Curtis said.