THOMAS A. KVAMME                                                                                       ALUMNUS: Leland Opp ‘73
March 12, 2009

Leland Opp

After a number of years coaching track and field, boys’ basketball, and cross-country, former Teton basketball player Leland Opp found himself back in the game this season as coach of the girls’ high school basketball team in his hometown of Hazen. It resulted in a trip to the 2009 North Dakota State Class B tournament, one of many notches of success on his athletic belt.

Going into the state event, Hazen was unbeaten at 23-0. After winning the first game and dropping the second, Opp’s squad came back to claim the third place title. Not bad for a first-year coach.

GOOD TIMES AS A TETON
Opp graduated from Hazen High School in 1982. He was recruited by Terry Olson and Phil Rabon to play ball and further his education at UND-Williston. This was also Terry Olson’s first year as head coach of the Tetons. Opp played baseball for one season and basketball for two seasons under Olson’s guidance.

Opp and the other athletes were housed at Pop’s House on campus. Looking back upon his college days at UND-W, he told us it was “a lot of fun.” He said the small campus allowed students to know each other and get along well.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our time at UND-W,” said Opp. He recalled enjoying a four-day school week and having a “lot of good times” traveling to games.

“I wouldn’t give up those two years (at Williston State) for anything,” said Opp.

EDUCATION WAS HIS GOAL
Opp graduated from UND-W in 1984. With his sights set on a career in education, he followed up with two years at Minot State University. He participated in MSU basketball for one season and got back into track and field, something he had done in high school.

Opp returned home to Hazen in 1987 not long after receiving his degree in elementary education, and is still there today, working as a 6th grade teacher at the Hazen Middle School.

GREAT SUCCESS AS TRACK COACH
Leland told us he was always interested in becoming a coach. Hazen proved to be a great place to do just that. Opp is entering his 20th season as the head girls’ track and field coach there. During the 90’s his teams ruled the track, claiming seven state Class B titles. He had the distinct honor of being the first coach to defeat a team coached by Jerry Popp, former Bowman coach whose boys’ and girls’ cross country teams made the record books with 39 state championships.

Opp was responsible for starting cross country at Hazen, where he coached both boys and girls for eight years. He also logged nine years as the boys’ basketball coach. Highlights from this time include a state girls’ cross country title in 1991 and recognition as the 1992-93 NDHSCA Coach of the Year in Class B Girls’ Cross Country.

BACK INTO THE COACHING RANKS
More recently Opp had scaled back his coaching commitments in order to spend more time with his family. But this season, when he was called to fill a vacancy as Hazen’s women’s basketball coach, he was ready to pick up the whistle once again.

Coaching is not lucrative, said Opp, but the opportunity to coach his basketball-playing daughter Allison made it all worthwhile.

How does the future look? “I will stay with it for now as long as Hazen is comfortable with it,” said Opp. After setting a school record, 25-1 overall, and winning a third-place trophy at the state tourney, there should not be a lot of protest.

The future looks bright for Opp and his Hazen squad, as they will lose only the starting point guard to graduation. “We had a fantastic [year] for the team and we are looking for a bigger and brighter next season,” said Opp.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Opp keeps busy coaching his daughter Allison’s team, while his son Jerrett is enrolled in North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton and will finish there this spring. Allison, a three-sport athlete, will be involved in track and field this spring, and finish her senior season of volleyball and basketball.

Leland and his brother Ronnie came from a family of nine children. Like his brother, Ronnie attended college in Williston and Minot. He coaches the girls’ C basketball squad at Hazen and also joins Leland on the bench as an assistant coach. Both brothers remain active in athletics and education, two of many former Tetons making a difference in the lives of our children and our future.

ONE DAY AT A TIME
Family support no doubt came into play for Leland about 18 months ago.

While working on a roof with his son, he suffered a heart attack and rolled off the structure.

He was rushed to Bismarck, where he remained, for a time, in a coma. Stents were inserted, and he has recovered. Leland is counting his blessings, and taking one day at a time.

ONWARD AND UPWARD
With Hazen’s successful season and bright prospects for the future, it was an exceptional year. Opp lauded the accomplishments of his Bison. Hazen won the District 14 and Region 7 championships, then finished third at the State Tournament. Their 25-1 overall season is a school record. Opp said his research shows the second best record is 25-3, but that particular team won the state championship. The Bison will seek that prize next year.