Story Written By: Christopher Simmons – CHSAANow.com
Photo Credit: Steve Abeyta
Coach Jeremiah Behrendsen has cemented his place in Dakota Ridge history after leading the Eagles to the CHSAA 4A State Football Championship. This is the first state title in program history, coming in just Behrendsen's second season as head coach.
Under Behrendsen's leadership, Dakota Ridge finished the season undefeated at 14-0, culminating in a dominant victory over Palmer Ridge to claim the championship. In recognition of this historic accomplishment, Behrendsen has been named the 2025 Denver Broncos High School Tackle Coach of the Year.
Behrendsen and the Eagles will be honored on field during the Broncos High School Salute game this Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers.
Jeremiah Behrendsen
Overall Record at Dakota Ridge: 25-2
Overall Record as a Head Coach: 25-2
What was going through your mind when the final whistle blew and you realized Dakota Ridge had just won its first-ever 4A title?
To be honest with you, the overwhelming feeling was pride. I looked around and saw coaches I have worked with for a decade or more, and I saw the kids, not only the ones from this year but players I have known since they were five years old. I can still remember meeting some of them for the first time. There was a deep sense of pride in seeing how far they have come, and I was incredibly happy for them. They worked unbelievably hard to reach this moment and seeing it all come together was something I will never forget.
This team finished 14-0. What do you think were the key ingredients to going undefeated this season?
First and foremost, it was how much they functioned as a family. Every kid wants their moment and each one got one, but they were just as happy when a teammate had theirs. That kind of selflessness is special. We lost some key pieces over the course of the year, and other players stepped up and did an amazing job. They were willing to do whatever the team needed. In addition, having an incredible defense gives you a chance in every game. Our senior leadership across all three phases was tremendous. The best teams are player led teams and this group absolutely embodied that.
You've been part of the Dakota Ridge football program for many years, but this is just your second season as the head coach. What do you think changed between last year and this year that enabled this breakthrough?
Last year we were really close, but we went through some traumatic moments as a team. Our defensive coordinator lost his wife, and one of our players lost his brother who had graduated the year before. I was incredibly proud of how we came together through that, but it was a lot to carry. This year, experience played a huge role. What our seniors learned as juniors and what our juniors learned as sophomores made a real difference. It kept them hungry because they were not satisfied with how last season ended. Our focus was second to none. We truly did get better every week. You hear that phrase a lot, but it is incredibly difficult to actually live it. This group did, day-by-day and week-by-week.
Your son, quarterback Kellen Behrendsen, delivered a stellar performance in the championship game. As his dad and as the head coach, how do you balance family dynamics and the pressure of a big game?
It is not always easy, but the biggest blessing is how well he handles it. If you talked to him, you would never know that his dad is the head coach. He does not make it a big deal. When your dad is the head coach and you are the quarterback, that can create pressure, but he never let that get to him. He stayed focused on doing what was best for the team. He knows he belongs in his role, and he takes pride in spreading the ball around to our offensive line and skill players. When you put the ball in the right hands at the right time, great things happen.
Were there any moments this season when you thought this might be our year or did you stay focused on one game at a time?
Internally, yes, but it was not something we talked about as a group once the season started. In our Leadership Academy before the year, the players set their individual and team goals, including the biggest ones. But once we entered league play and beat Ponderosa and Heritage, I noticed how much better we continued to get. After that first Heritage win, I felt that if we kept growing at that rate, we had a real chance to do something special.
Were there any games that stood out as defining moments, games where you saw the character or identity of this team really shine?
Those first two league games against Ponderosa and Heritage were huge. We knew our league was strong, and heading into league play our conference had a record around 25-5 in non-conference games. Getting those wins early was important. Beating Chatfield in Week 1 was also a major step for us. We had lost to them last year, so opening the season against a rival and finding a way to win, even when it was not our cleanest game, showed our resilience. Beating Pomona, a program led by a coach I respect deeply, and beating Cherokee Trail, another very strong 5A team, were also big early tests. The way this group answered the call every week was special.
You've talked in the past about the small town inside a big city feeling that comes from Dakota Ridge's community and youth sports association. How did that community support and connection play a role in this championship journey?
It was massive. We have so many families and kids at every game. When our players come out of the locker room, the younger kids line up for them, which means so much to our players. Our youth coaches message us every week with congratulations. On Saturday, the stadium was full of people who made the drive, including former players, former staff, and future Eagles. After the game, I got flooded with messages and videos from all around the stadium. Our youth association, our school leadership, especially our principal Kim Keller, and our feeder schools have helped create a tighter than ever community. Saturday was a moment that bonded everyone even more, and it will only strengthen what we are building.
As someone who worked under longtime coaches before taking over, how does your coaching philosophy shape this program now, and how do you hope it evolves?
Working with Coach Woj for so long was a gift. I was able to see so many things he did exceptionally well. At the same time, I had to blend those things with who I am and what I have learned from the coaches I played for or worked with. The past two years have been about creating that balance, holding onto 20 years of great tradition while also putting my own stamp on the program. A huge part of that is family, building connections across grade levels, across position groups, and between our players and the school staff. When you genuinely feel like a family, your strength as a group grows tremendously.
Now that the program has its first state championship, how do you plan to sustain this success and manage expectations going forward?
I tell our players all the time that winning is important, but it is not one of my top three goals for them. Winning is a byproduct of doing everything else the right way. We talk about doing what is right, putting others first, and becoming great fathers or mothers someday. We talk about becoming great leaders. Football is a vehicle for that. If we continue to focus on the things that do not require talent, such as competing, cooperating, and grinding, the wins will follow. And when people come together around those values, success tends to take care of itself.
What message do you want to send to youth players in your community who hope to be future Eagles?
I tell my sons this all the time. It is not where you start, it is where you finish. Maybe you are not very good yet, or maybe you are the best player right now, but either way, today is only your beginning. Do not waste time. Work hard and be proud of how you finish, whatever that looks like. We talk a lot about stacking days and getting one percent better. Those sayings exist for a reason. If you are not investing in the things that matter every day, you are selling yourself short. The moment you think you have made it, you are in trouble.
Given the hard work, time commitment, and pressure, what keeps you motivated as a head coach. What has been the most fulfilling part of this journey personally?
The kids are what keep me motivated every day. It is easy to go to work when you feel called to help young people chase their dreams. That is why I love teaching, fatherhood, and coaching. I am surrounded by coaches, almost 20 of them, who share that passion for developing kids. My wife Shannon shares the same passion with our own sons. The most fulfilling moments are when you see a kid's life change, whether in a small way or in a big one. When former players reach out years later, like the one who recently sent me a photo of his family, and you see them becoming great parents, great spouses, and great people, that is when you know you are helping make the world better.
How do you hope this 2025 championship season will impact Dakota Ridge's culture, not just for the current seniors, but for future classes?
I hope people, whether they are players, students, families, or other programs, can look at this team and see what is possible when you invest in each other and hold each other to a high standard with love. Winning a championship is incredible, but very few people ever get to experience it. What you can always experience are the moments you create with others and the milestones you reach together. I hope people look at this team and say that they were great football players, but even better students, people, and family members. When you invest in yourself and in each other, great things tend to follow.
