Fischer hired for Glacier grapplers

The Daily Inter Lake

One more down.

Flathead High School assistant wrestling coach Mark Fischer was hired late last week to be the head coach at Glacier High School.

"Mark's head coaching experiences have allowed him to hone his coaching vision over time," said Glacier athletic director Mark Dennehy in announcing the hire.

"He has developed strong relationships in the wrestling community with both wrestlers and coaches. He is extremely well organized and hardworking," Dennehy added.

A 1993 Polson High School graduate, Fischer earned his social studies broadfield degree at Western Montana.

He currently teaches U.S. History at Flathead and will teach history next fall at Glacier High.

"This is like a dream job, a once in a lifetime opportunity," Fischer said.

Fischer brings a wealth of coaching experience to the job.

In addition to the one season he spent as a member of the Flathead coaching staff, Fischer spent six years as the head wrestling coach at Sequim, Wash. Prior to that, he was head coach for one year at Billings Central and also spent two years at Oakes, N.D. - one year as assistant coach and one year as head coach.

His other coaching experience includes eight years as an assistant football coach at both the middle school and high school level. He also coached fastpitch softball for six years, including two years as a head coach.

Staff will be Fischer's immediate priority.

"I just can't believe the coaches we could possibly have at Glacier," he said.

Those include Flathead assistant coach Matt Owen, former coach Mark Armstrong and teacher Kyle Streitmatter.

Fischer emphasized his hope that Owen will become a part of his staff.

"I'm hoping he is going to be on (the staff). We're super good friends. We kind of wanted to go about it together. He's going to be a huge asset to us if he wants to be with us," Fischer said.

"Technique-wise, I think he's at the level (Flathead assistant coach) Jeff Anderson is for (Flathead head coach) Jeff Thompson.

"I've talked to those people. I'm not sure 100 percent if they want to be involved in the program. I think we'll work together really well. It's going to be fun. I just really enjoy those guys," he added.

Fischer admits his staff will have its work cut out.

"Flathead High School is going to have another dream team. I guess the biggest challenge is to take these kids who don't have a lot of experience and work hard every day so we can catch up to Flathead and some day be at their level.

"These kids should get ready to work hard."

Fischer and his wife Andrea, a stay-at-home mom, have three children. They are sons Tory, 8, and Tyler, 6, and daughter Jordyn, 3.