After spending the past nine seasons as an assistant coach for the Lake Mills Bulldogs, 1995 graduate, Brook Christianson was named the new head coach of the Lake Mills volleyball team earlier this year.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Jim; we have the same mindset. I moved here with the intention of someday taking over the program, but after nine years, I really had to think (If) I wanted to. I want to continue to coach in Lake Mills and don’t want to coach under anyone else”, Christianson told KIOW.
After starring in multiple sports for Lake Mills in the early 90s, Christianson stayed close to home as a dual-sport athlete at the then Waldorf College, a two-year JUCO school. In the spring, Christianson played the sport she still to this day loves, softball, and in the fall, she was on the volleyball court for the Warriors. In fact, she was named an honorable mention all-region softball player for the 43-4 Waldorf softball team during the 1996-1997 season. In 1997, Christianson left Waldorf to continue her volleyball career at Simpson College in Indianola.
She would enter the coaching ranks as the new head coach of Martensdale-St. Marys, a small public school 1A school part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area, roughly 27 miles from downtown Des Moines. Following her time at MSM, she spent six seasons at Norwalk, a Des Moines Suburb school. At Norwalk, Christianson helped a struggling program. The Warriors were 14-46 in her first two seasons but then won at least 13 games every year until she left the program following the 2013 season.
Perfect timing led to Christianson and her family returning to Lake Mills. An art teacher role had opened up, and Christianson wanted her three daughters, Kit, Dottie, and Betsy, in a place where there was a sound school system and where they would have the opportunity to do the activities they wanted to do as she was able to.
“At the time, we wanted our girls to be in a place they could be in all the activities they wanted to be in,” Christianson said. “When the job opened up, I took it – we wanted the girls back in Lake Mills. This is where I wanted them to be raised because I knew it would be a great place for them”, she added.
As soon as the job opened, Christianson stood by with her resume ready. Her passion is teaching and coaching while sculpting young women into future leaders. Though nervous at times, planning and getting ready for the season helps calm those nerves.
“I knew this is what I wanted to do – still nervous – but knew I was going to do it. The more I plan and set the schedule, the more excited I get”, she said.
Now as the team’s leader, how will things change under Christianson’s leadership? Well, she hopes for the public nothing. Christianson wants a culture of successful volleyball that’s been played for decades at Lake Mills.
She is passionate about keeping the tradition of conference championships and regional championship appearances and guiding the Bulldogs back to the state tournament.
“Those types of goals aren’t going to change. (Getting to state) that’s a personal goal of my own; even when I was playing, I always wanted to be in the state tournament, and I never made it as a player”, said Christianson.
But from the inside, Christianson said some things will change. She mentioned a couple of ideas she had to help speed up the way the Bulldogs play. She also mentioned laying down the law to the players she’s already met with since taking the job. The players knew her as the assistant coach, and it’s human nature to relax when the boss is gone. She’s the boss now, and Christianson will demand hard work when it’s time to work.
“I’ve told my players they will see things differently; maybe a few things fundamentally, but more as my role from an assistant to a head coach will be very different. I’m still going to be fun, we will still have fun, but my players are going to see me in a different role”, said Christianson.
As far as her coaching staff goes, Christianson won’t be making a lot of changes. Hailey Culver will stay on as a paid assistant coach, and most others have been around the Lake Mills program. Some have played for coach Boehmer in the past. Christianson said that she was looking for individuals with a passion for volleyball but also that she could instill in her ways.
Christianson played for coach Boehmer when he was a young coach and experienced those growing pains. Now, she’ll take that along with her experience with a veteran coach Boehmer and what she learned at her first two stops to lead the Bulldogs for hopefully many years.
