Charles Wollschlager/MDN Brothers Tommy Weidler and Matt Weidler pose for a picture before coaching their respective high school football teams against each other Friday night.

Matt and Tommy Weidler first played football together with their younger brother Josh on a makeshift field their father made in the family’s backyard. He painted lines in the yard and even constructed a makeshift goal post out of pipe to make it feel more realistic.

“We spent a lot time playing the game growing up,” said Tommy Weidler.

Friday night marked the first time the two coached against each other when the Velva/Drake-Anamoose Aggies, coached by Matt, rolled past the Nedrose Cardinals, coached by Tommy, 50-19.

Despite both leading programs in Class B, Region 3, the brothers aren’t about to call it a coaching rivalry yet.

“I don’t think there is any rivalry between us,” Matt told The Minot Daily News prior to Friday’s contest. “We may both want to win, but it’s about the kids more than us. After the game we will shake hands, hug it out and move onto next week.”

The brothers began seeing the impact a successful coach can have on players as members of the Velva Aggies football team in high school. There they played under hall-of-fame coach Larry Sandy, who led Velva to 13 region and nine state championships.

After high school, the brothers continued their football careers at the collegiate level, and they chose to remain local at Minot State University.

“Being with my brother was a big part in my choice,” said Matt. “Knowing that I had multiple years at MSU that I would get to play with my brothers and be close family, it was very special for me.”

The two relished playing in front of family and friends and enjoyed the support at their games.

While the two always knew they were interested in coaching, the path to the sidelines emerged while each was in college and studying education.

“I’ve always enjoyed coaching,” said Tommy. “It started at a young age coaching little league baseball and other sports. It was when I was at MSU that I knew I wanted to be a coach and I got into teaching.”

Tommy spent time as an assistant at Velva and Rugby before getting offered his first head coaching position with Nedrose in 2015.

Matt also studied education at Minot State, and after graduation he became a physical education teacher at Velva High School where he became an assistant under Sandy, whose mentorship had a lasting impact on the older Weidler.

“The biggest thing for me and anyone who coaches is time management,” said Matt. “You have time during the day and practice, but there is a lot of other stuff to do outside of that. Not just for the team but also for my job and family as well.”

Despite the two programs being in different positions, Velva being the defending state champions and Nedrose searching for just its second winning season since opening eight years ago, the two brothers have similar approaches.

They both focus on teaching their players the correct way to do things, as well as developing young men who can succeed in life.

“I am pretty hard on myself,” said Tommy. “Sometimes I wonder if I am doing it all right, but as long as kids are growing and becoming better that’s what matters.”

Tommy did acknowledge his brother’s success to the east.

“He [Matt] does a heck of a job over there in Velva!”