The Coaches 2007

Dan Lopatka

Head Coach

Dan Lopatka has been coaching High School Football for 30 years and has been with the Penguins Football team since 1990. Dan played high school football at Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton and later played with the Prairie Junior Football League Edmonton Wildcats and Red Deer Packers. Before Dan became Head Coach of the Penguins, he served as the Penguin Offensive Line Coach for two seasons. Dan had previously coached with the Victoria Composite Redmen and the ME LaZerte Voyageurs in the Edmonton High School Football League.

            As an educator Dan likes to watch kids do their best and he enjoys watching kids develop and reach their potential. Football allows for kids to progress and be the best that they can be. Football brings a sense of community to South Peace. It bridges grades 10, 11 and 12. Football is a process of sharing and giving within the team. Football teams are 30 or 40 brothers who share. Dan feels that every year is a successful football year. Winning the Peace Bowl takes a great amount of skill and also some luck. There have been many years when the team has played in the Peace Bowl.

            Penguin’s football means making a commitment to other people. It means being at practice, organizing ones time, working out all aspects of a player’s life like schoolwork and chores so they can practice and make the commitment to the team. Football requires 100% commitment.

Roger Anderson

Assistant Coach

            Roger Anderson has been a Penguins coach since 2002. He began as a defense back/receiver coach who evolved into a defensive co-coordinator then assistant coach. As a coach, Roger teaches the necessary skills to the defensive backs and receivers. Roger believes coaching is a commitment all on its own aside from the love of the game. Roger enjoys molding the players into a team and has spent many years coaching a number of sports. Coaching high school football is another full time job and the reward is seeing a true team come together.

            Football teaches discipline, gives focus and demands the players to work with other people. Coaching football is a year round responsibility as the team has spring camp, fall camp, jamborees, nightly practices and out of town games; the coach’s time continues with planning/game prep and reviewing game films. There are times when the coaches are up till 3 a.m. breaking down game films and preparing defensive strategies.

            After 5 or 6 weeks in the summer to rest from football, Roger is prepared to coach the Penguins team and receive the benefits from watching their progress as individuals and as a team. “More than one student came into football with no hope and left as a productive member of society.”

Peter Jensen

Defensive Linebackers Coach