Coach Bladt selected for NHSACA National Hall of Fame induction

 HARLAN -- The National High School Athletic Coaches Association has announced the upcoming induction of Harlan Community High School football coach Curt Bladt into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony for the Class of 2017 will take place on June 20 at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Illinois. This year’s class includes 30 coaches from 16 states across the nation.
 Coach Bladt was nominated for this national honor by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors and other specific state criteria. The NHSACA is the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame since 1996. Coach Bladt will now be added to this illustrious list of coaches in honor of his outstanding career.
 A retired school teacher at HCHS, Bladt has been the head football coach for 39 years while also serving as an assistant coach in wrestling and track as well as the assistant high school activities director. Bladt will enter his 40th season this fall with a football coaching record of 397-58 for a winning percentage of .873. He currently ranks first in state coaching history with 34 playoff appearances, 88 playoff wins and 11 state championships. Bladt’s Cyclones have also finished as state runner-up eight times.
 This will be Bladt’s third hall of fame induction since 1993, when he joined the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was also named to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Hall of Fame in 2011, just two years after being awarded the NFHS National High School Football Coach of the Year award.