S-C graduate gets closure with title

Sedalia native Joe Holtzclaw finally learned what it feels like to end a season with a win.

Northwest Missouri State University won its third NCAA Division-II national championship Saturday. The Bearcats beat Grand Valley State 30-23.

The victory was sweet for the 2002 Smith-Cotton High School graduate because he had been involved in the Bearcats’ trips to the national championship game in each of the past four years when they were the runners-up.

Holtzclaw, a two-time all-district and all-conference pick at Smith-Cotton, just finished his third season as an assistant offensive line coach. He was a three-year starter at Northwest Missouri and was a team captain and All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association pick.

He played on the 2005 and 2006 teams that reached the championship game.

As the Bearcats ran out the final 52 seconds on the clock Saturday, the celebration was just beginning in Florence, Ala.

“It didn’t sink in at first,” Holtzclaw said. “I was used to putting my head down and walking off the field. I was overwhelmed when the crowd ran on the field.”

Holtzclaw said that the coaching staff saw something different about the 2009 team.

“They didn’t hang their heads after the way last season ended. They didn’t have any letdowns even when something went wrong,” Holtzclaw said. “They had a certain swagger about them.”

Holtzclaw spent eight years at the university located in Maryville. He was redshirted his freshman year.

“It’s great closure. I played in two of them and three I coached in. It’s a great way to end everything. What I have done here has been awesome,” Holtzclaw said.

Holtzclaw would have loved to win a championship as a player, but he’ll cherish this title.

“I still teared up like everyone,” Holtzclaw said. “I still was invested in this team and this program.”

Holtzclaw plans to be a college coach.

“I can’t imagine spending my day doing anything different than what I’ve done the last three years,” Holtzclaw said.

Holtzclaw will receive his Master of Science in Education on Friday and will try to land a college job, preferrably in D-II.

He said his degree gives him some backup. If the college game doesn’t work out, he could coach at the high school level.

Working under head coach Mel Tjeerdsma has been a great training ground for Holtzclaw.

“He’s everything he’s advertised to be. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met. He’s always about doing the right thing. He taught us that football’s about more than playing the game,” Holtzclaw said.

Tjeerdsma just finished his 15th season as head coach at Northwest Missouri. He has three national championships and reached the national title game six times in 11 years.