Earlier this season, the Hamilton Southeastern High School (HSE) and Fishers High School (FHS) football teams met in the Mudsock Game, their annual rivalry matchup. The HSE Royals defeated the Fishers Tighers 28-27 in overtime.
As we get ready for the teams to kick off postseason play in the IHSAA State Tournament tonight, meet the head coaches, Coach Curt Funk of FHS and Coach Michael Kelly of HSE. Between the two, they have a combined 36 years of coaching and teaching experience.
Fishers High School’s Coach Funk
Coach Funk began his coaching career in 2003 at Bluffton High School, where he was the assistant football coach and Industrial Technology teacher for two years. Over the course of his career, he has also worked at Muncie Southside, Mooresville High School, and Mississinewa High School, where he spent 10 years before landing at Fishers High School in the spring of 2020. “We have moved 8 times during that span, but I have been blessed at every stop and have made lifelong friends,” he said.
Beyond his career, Coach Funk says he most values, “building lifelong relationships with the players and watching them make a difference after their playing days.” These connections often prove vital in the experience student-athletes take away from high school and contribute to the group atmosphere.
Quick Q&A with Coach Funk
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Chatham Tap
FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS: Custom Embroidery
FAVORITE FISHERS PARK: Holland Park
Photo courtesy of Bella Soto, @16photoco
Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Coach Kelly
Coach Kelly of Hamilton Southeastern High School began his coaching career at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown, Kentucky in 2006. He moved to Fishers in 2008, where he taught at Fishers High School for nine years before beginning his transition to becoming a head coach at Seymour High School. Coach Kelly was there for three years prior to taking over as the HSE Head Football Coach in 2020.
For Coach Kelly, the experience and growth the players take away from the game is one of the most important aspects of it. “The growth we strive to see is in their character and in their personal, educational, and athletic life,” he said.
Quick Q&A with Coach Kelly
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT: Ale Emporium
FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS: Forum Credit Union
FAVORITE FISHERS PARK: Flat Fork Creek Park
Photo courtesy of @cb10media
The FHS Tigers travel to Fort Wayne Northrop and the HSE Royals host Homestead. Both games begin at 7 p.m. tonight.
Best of luck to both teams!
Laura Masoni is the Public Relations Intern for the City of Fishers. She moved to Fishers from Greenwood in 2010. Her favorite activities include traveling, rowing at Eagle Creek, and going to concerts in Downtown Indy. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her friends and listen to podcasts & music.