The Men Behind The S.H.I.E.L.D.

GRUNDY CENTER - Six consecutive state championship appearances. Five District championships Three championship titles. 39 game win streak, among the longest current streaks in Iowa high school football. 

It’s safe to say that Grundy Center football has gained attention for their success over the last six seasons under Coach Travis Zajac and his staff. This staff has changed little since Zajac arrived in Grundy Center in 2019 and it retained many of the same coaches who were on Brent Thoren’s staff before. 

“I came in wanting to be as transparent and genuine as I could,” Zajac said. “When I left Wahlert Catholic in 2018, we went 0-9. I assumed there would be healthy skepticism about my record. I wanted communication and input from the staff when I arrived here.”

In Zajac’s own words, the Spartans “caught lightning in a bottle” in that first season in 2019, winning six games in a row to reach the Class A championship and fall to West Hancock 21-17. 

“I watched the kids buy into [Zajac’s] expectations,” lineman coach Scott Muller said. “He made those expectations clear from the get go. The kids worked hard and put in the effort.”

Muller and defensive coordinator Chris Conger were both on the staff prior to Zajac arriving at Grundy Center and eagerly stayed on as Conger felt the culture “was turning a corner.”

“We were prioritizing the weight room, which is great to see as the track coach,” Conger said. “Bigger, faster, stronger was coming into fruition. But mainly, I think it was the collaboration and mindset of the kids that led to buy-in from everyone, and that’s how we got on a roll.”

Quarterbacks coach Josh Rekers joined the staff in 2022 and clicked with the offense coaches. Fans will notice Rekers’ tradition of jumping into the waiting pit of players after each win to celebrate. 

“They never forget it,” Rekers said. “It’s one of those things that brings a lot of energy. I played the game and want to pass my passion on to our kids. We all do.”

It’s a mix of fun and work for both coaches and the players. The staff communicate mainly through email and text groups over the weekends. As Zajac referenced during his victory speech after this year’s championship win, coaches sacrifice time with family to work with the team. However, their communication setup does allow these coaches to be with family over the weekends. 

“He really wants us to get away from it for a little bit, so that when we come back in on Monday, we're re-energized and ready to go,” Muller said. “There’s a lot of times over the week I don’t see my family, but they know that this is my joy and they're huge supporters who want me to continue to coach as long as I can.”

Why coach? The athletes were the consensus answer among the assistants interviewed. 

“Early mornings, late nights, it starts and ends with these kids,” Rekers said. “They work hard for us. We all know the line between having fun and getting work done. And as a staff, we know we have that same relationship with each other. The more work on the field, the more fun off the field too.”

Six years with the program, a culture has long been established and the expectations for Spartans has been set by Zajac. This culture was most evident this season, as the Spartans reloaded from graduating a strong senior class in 2023 to ultimately win their third straight title. 

“There were a lot of new guys this season who never played varsity before,” Muller said. “But instead of questioning if they were as good as last year’s group, they bought in every practice. They were working hard, studying plays and being coachable. All things we want from all our guys. We had guys getting their first snaps this season and ended up playing in a state championship game.” 

But when asked, Zajac will always deflect credit and bring up his coaching staff.

“Everyone has their own reasons for coaching, but I know it starts with how respectful and coachable our kids are,” Zajac said. “There’s a talent level here that’s been pretty consistent, and it’s hard to walk away from an opportunity like this. The time and effort these coaches put in is one reason why we have so much success. This has been a magical thing for us.”

“Exhausting” was the word Conger used to describe the last six years. Practice, watching film, getting the athletes in the weight room. The season is a grind, but a great reward for the staff when they see their players succeed at the championship level. 

“It's an all-in effort to make sure that our kids are prepared,” Conger said. “We’re in this business for their legacy. These coaches are great people. These are some of my best friends. By the end of the season, we’re ready for a break. But when the summer comes around, we’re eager to pick it up again and see each other.”