 on Helias’ 1998 state title football team. Helias football is very special to Hentges. A ball boy when he was younger, he played for his father and was a two-time all-state run- ning back in the early 1980s. He was an All-American in 1983. Hentges still holds the Helias school record for yards rushing in


           yards). After a college career at Iowa State, Chris came back to Helias to coach in 1993. This year marks his 32nd year in the Helias football program. Like Hentges, Pitts was a two-time all-state player for Helias in 1998 and 1999. He went on to play football at Missouri before coming 


When Chris Hentges was named head coach at Helias in 2006, Phil Pitts became the defensive coordinator. When Chris stepped down af- ter the 2010 season, it was Phil who got the call to lead the program.  After the 2014 season, Pitts and Hentges left the program. But it wouldn’t be long before both returned to their roots. Hentges re- turned as Helias’ head football coach in 2018. Pitts would return to Helias the following year as defensive coordinator.


Hentges and Pitts played for Hall of Fame coach Ray Hentges. Both  “He had a great knowledge of the game, passion for the school, was a great motivator, a great person and builder of men,” Pitts said. “Watching him get to spend each day doing something he loved  Chris Hentges had a front row seat to watch his father coach at


 “As a head coach, I always admired the way he trusted the coaches around him. He always said to hire hard working, competent people and let them do their job. I surround myself with great coaches and then trust them.”


There may be many more years of the Hentges and Pitts combina- tion at Helias. “I am still enjoying the process of coaching,” Hentges said. “As long as we are playing great football and the program is thriving, I will continue.” That’s very good news for Helias football.


20 /// August 2024


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