By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

ELLIS — Ellis USD 388 has tabbed longtime assistant coach Craig Amrein as the next head football coach of the Railroaders.

Amrein served as an assistant coach at Ellis for eight seasons under coach Butch Hayes. Before that, he was an assistant to Ryan Cornelsen at La Crosse.

After serving as an assistant coach with Hayes and Cornelsen, Amrein said he is excited to be a head coach.

Amrein also said he believes his familiarity with the players will help to make it a smooth transition.

“I’ve been assistant, I’ve been D (defensive) coordinator and I’ve also been assistant offensive coordinator before, so the kids know what they’re getting into,” Amrein said. “They know what my expectations are.”

From 2006 through 2011, Ellis posted six straight playoff appearances. Since then, the Railroaders have suffered three straight losing seasons, and Amrein said they need to get tougher if they are going to get the program back to where it was.

“Right now, one of the things that I am going to look at it mental toughness,” Amrein said. “We have got to get tougher across the board and a lot of that comes from time in the weight room.”

Amrein is a computer technology teacher at the Ellis High School.

Hayes, who also served as boys basketball coach, departed Ellis for a position at Rock Creek USD 323 in Westmoreland.

The USD 388 approved the hiring of Amrein as the head high school football coach and Brandon Maska as the head boys basketball coach at Monday’s meeting.

Ellis opens the season Sept. 4 at Norton.