Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Hometown Tiger
PRAIRIE GROVE — Max Washausen grew up playing in the Prairie Grove football program under coaches Danny Abshier and Craig Laird.
Now, the head coach of the Tiger seventh grade, Washausen feels his greatest accomplishment as a coach is coming back to his hometown to coach.
“I didn’t know it would happen as quickly as it did,” Washausen said. “I didn’t know it would happen at all but it just happened to work out that way.”
Washausen graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Physical Education and has since earned a masters in teaching. He served as a volunteer student assistant at Heritage High School at Rogers before landing his first coaching job at Palestine Wheatley in 2009. The next year he jumped at an opportunity to join the Prairie Grove staff and returned home.
Washausen was impressed as a player by the dedication of Abshier and Laird.
“They are the reason I’m a coach,” Washausen said. “They are great role models. Coach Abshier is a great motivator. He always to this day motivates me as a coach.”
“I learned from those guys to do the little things right,” Washausen said.
Abshier and Laird emphasized developing proficiency in the fundamentals of football such as blocking, tackling and toughness and demonstrated an enthusiasm for the game that appealed to Washausen.
“It’s a unique experience to coach with someone that coached you and someone you looked up to and to mix the old with when I played with the now,” Washausen said
Washausen’s father, Louis, is a resident of Prairie Grove and has supported his son.
“My dad was always somebody whose been real supportive of whatever I do and he’s been a part of it,” Washausen said.
Washausen’s two younger brothers, Devin and Erich, are both attending college and wanting to become coaches, as well. Washausen has made it clear to his brothers that coaching is a profession one must enjoy.
“There are no ifs, there’s some tough times and you got to really love it,” Washausen said
Washausen said the Prairie Grove staff, which also includes John Elder, works really well together, knows each other well and is a tightknit group and are having a positive impact on the youth of the community.
“Just trying to be a good example, lead by example and give those kids that maybe don’t have a role model someone to look to,” Washausen said. “You try to hope that by setting a good example every kid will get better and grow as a football player and as a person.”
One of the rewards for Washausen, who coaches the secondary for the senior high team, is seeing players take something they’ve been taught on the practice field and translate that into an impact performance in a game.
“I’ve seen that with Jon Halbert,” Washausen said.
Halbert has made gamechanging interceptions on defense, which he has returned for a touchdown in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Washausen thinks the accomplishments of the football staff in getting the most out of players goes underrated.
“Prairie Grove, as a program overachieves. We’re never the biggest, strongest or most athletic but we find a way to win,” Washausen said. “I think a lot of times that is overlooked.”