Carlson Steps Down as Waukee’s Football Coach

After 25 seasons as head coach, Scott Carlson is stepping down as the leader of the Waukee High School football program.  Carlson was hired as Waukee head football coach in 1996 after assistant coaching stops in Denison and Newton.  He took over a Waukee program that was then competing as a Class 2A school.  Carlson guided Waukee as it successfully transitioned through three enrollment classifications, eventually becoming a Class 4A football power.

Carlson led the Warriors to 16 playoff appearances in his last 17 years as coach.  During that time, Waukee teams won 9 District/Division titles and advanced to the quarter-final round of the state playoffs 8 times.  Two of his teams played in the state semi-finals.  Carlson won 162 games making him the winningest football coach in school history.  He posted an impressive 110-52 record as a 4A program, playing schedules loaded with playoff teams year in and year out.

Carlson coached 47 first or second team all state selections and 10 players that earned elite all state honors.  Seventeen of his players went on to play football at the Division I level and three former Warriors played in the NFL.  Carlson will continue coaching football, this time as a member of the Northwest High School staff in an assistant role.