When former Rochelle student-athlete TC Hager returned home from the University of Iowa in 2018 to begin his graduate studies in sport management, an opportunity arose for him to give back not only to his alma mater, but also the community where he grew up.

Hager was preparing to start his master’s program at Northern Illinois University when RTHS athletic director Richard Harvey and head football coach Kyle Kissack contacted him about assistant coaching roles with the football and wrestling teams. The RTHS Class of 2014 alum didn’t hesitate to accept the offers, and since then, Hager has used his education and his experiences as a Hub to help develop the school’s next crop of student-athletes.

“Sports have always been a huge part of my life,” Hager said. “I played three sports all through high school, and when I went to college, I wanted to find a way to stay involved in sports… Rich and Kyle reached out to me about football and wrestling, and the experience has been really enjoyable since then. It doesn’t feel like work at all, and I love working with the kids and getting involved with the same programs that I grew up with. It’s great to give back.”

Hager has coached football and wrestling each of the last two years, and since becoming an assistant coach, he’s worked alongside many of the same coaches he competed for when he was a student-athlete at RTHS. One of those coaches is his father, Chris Hager, who coached TC in high school and has since rejoined the staff as an assistant. Now working side-by-side, Hager said coaching with his father has added new depth to their relationship.

“It’s been great and it’s definitely given me a new perspective,” Hager said. “When I was in high school, I think I took my dad’s coaching for granted a little bit. I always took what he said with a grain of salt as opposed to listening to what he had to say. We had an interesting dynamic when I was in high school, but it’s been great to see things come full circle, and I’ve been able to reflect on all of the great things he taught me as a wrestler and as a person.”

Outside RTHS, Hager has served as the recreation supervisor for the Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District since February 2019. Armed with his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and his master’s degree in sport management, Hager has taken on multiple roles in his job including coordinating park district leagues and recreation programs. He’s also worked closely with executive director Jackee Ohlinger to help shape the new community center coming this fall, specifically mapping out floorplans and selecting equipment for the 24-hour fitness facility.

“The park district position has been great,” Hager said. “I really enjoy working with Jackee, Maureen [Stevens] and the staff there. I’m thankful for Jackee as well because she wanted me to stay involved in coaching at the high school, which has helped me stay motivated. It’s a really exciting time for the community as we’re building the recreation center. I’ve learned a lot about programming and how I can bring new activities and to the community.”