Alex Eisen/MDN The Des Lacs-Burlington bench watches running back Caleb Rist (20) carry the ball in a Class A football game played last season against South Prairie at Duane Carlson Stadium in Minot.

The Des Lacs-Burlington’s football program is getting a new dose of youth and energy as 27-year-old Taylor Teske ascends James Johnson as the next Lakers head coach.

Before accepting the new job, Teske worked on Johnson’s staff for four years as an assistant coach from 2015-2019.

“I’ve always aspired to become a head coach,” Teske said. “I am very grateful for what coach Johnson established there during his tenure. I have learned a lot from him as I got my feet wet, learning the ends and outs of the position.”

The culture set in place by Johnson serves as an excellent base to build upon, according to Teske. He knows as a coach that he can’t be afraid of change. The staff will consist of Brandon Karhoff (defensive coordinator), and Shawn Kuhnhenn (offensive coordinator) who will look to adapt to the player’s strengths and weaknesses as the athletes they inherit will change from year to year.

Teske plans to shape the team into his image during summer camp if COVID-19 conditions permit.

“As a new coach, I have done my best to reach out to the kids,” Teske said. “The coronavirus pandemic doesn’t make things any easier in regards to getting different messages to the athletes with playbooks by making things more electronic. I am going forward with game planning as if we are going to start on time this fall. But it is going to come down to decision-makers like the North Dakota school board of activities, the governor and the superintendents on what is allowed this fall and also the summer in regards to team camps.”

Competing against powerhouse programs like Velva (10-1 overall, 7-0 Region 3) and state champion runner-up Bishop Ryan (11-2 overall, 6-1 Region 3), DLB knows they can’t get caught looking ahead.

“Our region is very competitive,” Teske said. “Like Velva and Ryan, who both had very successful seasons last year. Our goal is to try to win the region, qualify for the playoffs and to get to the state championship game. But we have to take it one day at a time, each practice at a time.”

After graduating from Minot State University in 2015, coach Teske saw that DLB was looking to fill two positions: one as an assistant on the field and two as a teacher in the classroom. While in college, Teske gained experience as a student-teacher by helping out Surrey and Westhopes’ football program as an assistant coach.

After accepting both positions, he also joined the boys varsity basketball team as an assistant under head coach Tyler Ystaas. It’s safe to say his fall and winter seasons are pretty full, and he will be tying the knot as well.

“I’m getting married this August,” Teske said. “I don’t have any time constraints with children or anything like that, so I have a little bit more time to juggle and dedicate that toward this new endeavor.”

Teske teaches social sciences at DLB. Before earning his degree from MSU, he attended and graduated from Westhope High School in 2011.

“I teach mainly ninth and 10th graders,” Teske said. “I do have some other electives where I teach juniors and seniors as well, but my main job as a teacher in social sciences.”

Teske said that he is Class B through and through and that he is more familiar with the smaller settings, making it better to connect and relate to the student-athletes while also building trust with the parents in both rural areas and the inner city.

DLB lost a lot of playmakers to graduation, so like all the programs across the state, the team will be looking to fill holes, allowing transfers and incoming first-year students the same opportunities as the juniors and seniors to start this season.

“The game of football can teach a person life lessons,” Teske said. “Our goal is to build that sense of community by instilling family values in our players while also turning them into better men in the future.”

DLB athletic director Scott Medalen could not be reached for comment.