Sioux City East coach dies

The longtime football coach at Sioux City East High School died this morning. Ambulances rushed to Walt Fiegel’s home in Sioux City this morning. Efforts to revive Fiegel failed and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 10:30. Fiegel was 69. Fiegel coached the Sioux City East Red Raiders in three different stints for a total of 23 years. Fiegel recorded 158 victories during his career. In 1984, Sioux City East won a state championship under his guidance. The team qualified for the playoffs 12 times during his tenure. The Red Raiders closed this past season with a 3-6 record. Rick Vanderloo, Sioux City East’s assistant football coach, says Fiegel was always a “player’s coach.” He says even in the last couple of years when they didn’t have the best record, he still had a positive attitude. Vanderloo says he was respected and liked and touched thousands of lives. Vanderloo says Fiegel simply loved coaching and had a knack for dealing with kids and people. Vanderloo says Fiegel had considered retirement as a 69-year-old keeping up with 18-year-olds. Vanderloo says Fiegel was able to keep up, but knew he’d probably retire some time.