He later attended Rochester Community College and received his degree from Mankato State University. Besides coaching football, Ferber has been the head track coach since his second year at NRHEG. He also served as head volleyball coach for three years.
Ferber recalled several of the memorable moments he has experienced while coaching football.
“It was a ninth-grade game back in the ‘90s,” said Ferber. “Aaron Gilliland had intercepted a pass for us and was running it back. Jeremy Berg, whose nickname was ‘Sherman,’ hit this opposing player so hard the kid did a complete flip and landed on his face. ‘Get some ice,’ I told someone, as I knew he was out cold. It took a few minutes, but the player got to his feet and was all right. Dan [Stork] and I refer to it as the ‘Hit of the Century.’”
Another memorable moment was from a few years ago.
“We were coming back from playing Minnesota Valley Lutheran and stopped in Mankato at Old Country Buffet,” said Ferber. “Five of the guys just stuffed themselves at the buffet. On the way home, three of them had their heads out the windows of the bus, while the other two had their heads in buckets.”
Football has always been a game highly influenced by the weather. Ferber recalled a close call the team experienced at Wells one night.
“We were playing at USC,” said Ferber. “There was a huge lightning strike on the other side of the field. Everyone took off running for the bus without being told to. It was close.”
Ferber explained his coaching philosophy, which has kept him going these past years.
“My job as a B-Squad coach in my mind is, if I have 15 kids out for the team as sophomores, I want to see the same 15 kids out for football as juniors,” said Ferber. “The number one concern is to have fun, but also to help them grow and improve as players.”
Ferber has made many friends with opposing coaches through the years and says he will miss that camaraderie, but his players are equally as important.
“I will probably miss the kids more,” said Ferber. “I have kids from 17 years ago come up to me and talk about games. As a player or a coach, you sort of form an alliance, a bond that can never be broken. You are all one team. You rely on each other. The kids with their eagerness to play, I know I will miss it. I thought I knew a lot about football, but John [Schultz] and Dan [Stork] have taught me more than I ever imagined. I know new coaches Andy Peterson and Taylor Holland will do a fine job. It was just time for some “new blood” in the program.”
