Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight: Arlen Dombrock

Name – Arlen Dombrock                             
UW-Stout graduation year – 1971
Major – Industrial Education                      
Sport(s) – Football, Baseball       
Years Played – 1966-69 (served as graduate assistant football coach in 1970)
Hometown (High School) – St Croix Falls, Wis (St. Croix Falls High School)
Currently Reside – Appleton, Wis.

Why did you choose to be a collegiate student-athlete at UW-Stout?
Sports had always been a big part of my life since I was very young.  I participated in football, basketball, baseball and track in high school so I guess it was only natural for me to pursue athletics at the collegiate level.

 

What did you like most about competing in collegiate athletics? 
What I enjoyed most was the camaraderie with my teammates.  Being from a small town, it was great to develop relationships with a diverse group of athletes from a variety of backgrounds.

Who was the most influential person in your athletic career?
I would have to say my high school football coach, Don Harris.  Although he was only my coach for my freshman year, he also single-handedly ran the summer recreation program that I was very active in.  He coached all the baseball teams from third grade on up and even started a tackle football program after third grade.  He taught me a lot about the fundamentals of competing and that dedication and hard work will make you better.

What is your most memorable or favorite sports moment at UW-Stout?  
It was celebrating a victory at the end of a game with teammates Reggie Holmes and Mercel Jones.  I can't even remember who we beat (I think maybe River Falls) but, I do remember the excitement.  Another thing I remember about football was that I used to tape around 20 ankles before every game because the guys liked my technique better than the trainers.

Outside of athletics, what other activities were you involved in at UW-Stout?
I sang in the Stout Symphonic Singers for four years and made two spring trips with them - one to Colorado and the other to Texas.  I wrote for The Stoutonia and ended up being the Sports Editor.  I was also involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Campus Life.  I joined Alfresco Ski Club and became the trip chairman organizing many ski outings including one to Colorado.  And of course I participated in several intramural sports.  I also found time to perform with a folk-religious singing group.

Since you were a part of so many extracurricular activities, how were you able to juggle all of them?
Fortunately my high school, although small, did a great job of preparing me for college. I was able to make good use of my time and keep up with what was needed to be done.  I remember once or twice it did involve an all-nighter.

Did you receive any athletic or nonathletic awards during your time at Stout? If so, what did they mean to you?
I did letter in both football and baseball.  I also received a Most Improved Award in football.  Academically, I was on the dean's list and received the Stout Medallion Award and the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Give us a brief synopsis of your life since graduating from UW-Stout, include job and family.
I spent my first four years after graduating at Elkhart Lake-Glenbuelah High School implementing a drafting program and teaching math.  I also coached football, basketball and baseball.  Those were very busy and enjoyable years.  In addition to my school responsibilities, I also played semi-pro football with the Sheboygan Redwings and amateur baseball with the Sheboygan A's. 

After those four years, I decided to pursue a Master's Degree and headed off to the University of Northern Colorado for a year to obtain my degree.  Upon completion of my degree in Industrial Education, I returned to Wisconsin to teach and coach football at Burlington High School.

While there, my old roommate from my years in Elkhart Lake called and said they had an opening and asked if I would like to come back. Because I had enjoyed my years there and still had lots of connections in the area I decided to return.  I spent the next seven years at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School teaching and coaching football.  As it turned out, I also became the head girls' basketball coach which was a new and interesting and enjoyable experience.  It was also during this time that I met and married Patricia Ryan, a special education teacher who had moved to Elkhart Lake while I was gone. We were married in 1979 and had a son, Ryan, in April of 1983. 

In 1985, we moved to Kaukauna, Wisconsin, where I taught and coached for the next 23 years.  We had a second son, Kevin, in February of 1989.  I spent a lot of time coaching youth sports as my sons progressed through soccer, football, basketball and baseball.  My wife and I retired in 2008 and are enjoying traveling and spending time with family and friends.  I stay involved at Kaukauna High School by substitute teaching, coaching baseball and running the clock for football and basketball games.

You were a member of the football and baseball teams, what did you like most about both of those sports?
I think what I liked most about both sports was the mental aspects of anticipating what the opponent will do and then re-acting to it.  I definitely enjoyed the physicality of football, but as a pitcher in baseball the mental aspect was more important.