Columbia Heights High School (CHHS) football coaches Mr. Matt Townsend, Mr. John Rockwell, Mr. Pete Heryla and Mr. Howard Rogotzke have recently stepped down from their long years of coaching the Heights football program. Columbia Heights football has been a part of the high school’s school spirit for many years. The homecoming games have always created a sense of excitement and intense competition. The competitive nature of the football games was a direct result of the commitment and pride inherent in veteran coaches Townsend, Rockwell, Heryla and Rogotzke.
Townsend was the head coach of the varsity football team and remains a vital technology education teacher at Columbia Heights High School (CHHS). Townsend, along with assistant coaches Heryla and Rockwell, were named the Blue Sub-District coaches of the year in (2024). Townsend has been a teacher at CHHS for 27 years and graduated from Columbia Heights himself in (1992), continuing a strong connection to the community from childhood to today. Townsend played quarterback for Heights and continued his football career at UW Stout College.
“Football by all means isn’t an easy sport and all of the coaches helped better me as a player and as a person,” Columbia Heights alumnus Thomas Goodman (class of 2023) said. “When you played football [at] Heights, you were both a football player and a family member.”
Assistant coach Rockwell was the defensive coordinator for the team and is also a longtime friend of and business partner with offensive line coach Heryla. Rockwell and Heryla were also graduates of CHHS, playing for the Hylanders themselves, respectively.
“I’m glad I got to have the experience to play with this group of coaches, [as] they taught me a lot about the sport and helped me grow as a player,” CHHS student-athlete Nour Hussein (11) said. “I also appreciated how they kept us always on task and had very organized practices.”
This former group of coaches had a very strong passion for the game that could not be matched and played key roles in cultivating a positive athletic environment for everyone who played for them. The care that this group of coaches had for the players stood out, helping young student-athletes get the ability to play at the next level.
The coaches, however, took a step down from coaching this year.
“I suppose the decision was made because of time overall and not having the ability to spend as much time with family as I would like,” Townsend said. “Football is a large commitment and there is a lot of time that goes into it. The decision to step down is bittersweet.”
Townsend’s favorite part of coaching for Heights was getting the chance to work with the families and student-athletes.
“I also enjoyed getting to see my students and athletes have the chance to become successful,” Townsend said. “The atmosphere of the big playoff and homecoming games was also something I really enjoyed.”
The new head coach for Heights was recently announced too, with longtime Special Education teacher at Valley View Elementary and CHHS alumnus himself Mr. Matthew Birr stepping up to take on the future of the Hylander football program. The assistant coaches are still undecided.
“Those who are close to me know that I had been waiting for this opportunity,” Birr said. “Columbia Heights is home, and I truly have wanted to be the Head Varsity Football Coach of the Hylanders since I got into coaching back in 2014.”
Birr is excited and honored to take on the mantle from the four coaches who mentored him throughout his time as a football player from 2008 until 2015.
“I’ve always wanted to be able to say that I am the Head Football Coach at Columbia Heights High School—my dream job, if you will.”
The long legacy that was created by Townsend, Rockwell, Heryla and Rogotzke will stay in Heights history.
