Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College announced that Davin DePoe has been hired as Head Coach of the Thunder Football team. DePoe begins his appointment immediately and will lead the Thunder Football Program into the 2018 season. He takes over the program from former Head Coach Terry Fawcett who retired from coaching the Thunder at the end of the 2017 season.
Prior to coming to the Thunder, DePoe has been a high school football assistant coach in Florida and at the former AlBrook High School. He also assisted with the local Northshore Grizzlies semi-pro football team. He served in the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Division and completed two tours of duty to Iraq.
“I learned from my experience in the Army that I liked teaching and the mentoring aspects of helping new and younger soldiers,” said DePoe. “The camaraderie and teamwork you build are great feelings and makes the long hours well worth the effort. My approach to coaching is similar, and I look forward to building a competitive football program in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. I also hope to build enthusiasm for the program, and I know we will have fun in the process.”
DePoe describes himself as an offensive-minded coach, always evolving schemes and inserting new wrinkles. He hopes his enthusiasm and enjoyment of teaching will suit his new team well.
“I’m a former paratrooper, which means I learned to focus aggressiveness and enthusiasm to get the job done,” said DePoe. “Our motto in the 82nd Airborne was ‘All the way, and then some.’ That mentality is ingrained in me and I hope to share that with the Thunder.”
DePoe plans to get started with an off-season workout program with the returning Thunder players and will dig in with recruiting new players for the 2018 season.
“For me, it’s a big honor to get this head coach position,” said DePoe. “I am thankful that President Anderson trusts me with this leadership role within Thunder Athletics. In addition to playing football and college coursework, I hope to get our Thunder student athletes visible in the public with positive activities like community volunteering. My goal is to provide well-rounded experiences that build young men into leaders.”
DePoe played middle linebacker at Mesabi Range Technical and Community College, a member of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference in which Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College also belongs. He grew up in Cloquet and played football at Cloquet Senior High School. He is a graduate of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. DePoe currently resides in Cloquet.
For more information about the Thunder Football program or to contact Head Coach Davin DePoe, call 218-879-0792.

Davin DePoe