Criswell returns to state 25 years later

Greg Criswell thought he'd never coach again, much less at the 2019 Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union state basketball tournament.
Alas, he has returned with the Waukon High School girls basketball team 25 seasons after taking Montezuma to the state tournament in 1994.
Waukon won its state quarterfinal game with a 48-37 win over Crestwood in Des Moines on Monday. It was the third time the Indians and Cadets had met this season.

Many things have changed since the last time Criswell was a head coach. For starters, the tournament has moved from across the street from Veterans Memorial Auditorium to Wells Fargo Arena. (It's been that way since 2006.)

"It personally has rejuvenated me," Criswell said. "I inherited a great group of girls who love to work hard. It's exciting to be back and we're in it for another round."
Criswell uses the Montezuma squads from 1989 to 1994 -- the time Criswell coached at Montezuma -- as an example to his current Indians squad.
"In regards to how hard they work, how hard they played, and (Waukon) really reminds me of how Monte played," Criswell said.
Criswell had spent 21 years coaching at Winterset High School after leaving Montezuma.
Two years ago, Criswell happened to be in La Crosse, Wisconsin, watching a girls' tournament as a spectator. He had noticed among a slew of club teams was one high school non-club team: Waukon.
He appreciated how they played in an area where the girls basketball talent is strong.
A month after Criswell saw the Indians play in La Crosse, he saw their head coach job had opened up. He thought that was interesting.
"They have been super," Criswell said. "I decided to go ahead, I called the athletic director Brian Hilsabeck and he said, 'You have to come up here. This is God's country up here.' My wife and I drove up here, and we just felt it was right. We packed the family up to Waukon, Iowa."
He had known about the Montezuma girls basketball head coaching job being vacant, and he admitted there was interest.
He got a phone call from Janel (Grimm) Burgess, his star player in that 1994 state tournament run at Montezuma.
Burgess had just returned back to Montezuma after traveling around the Midwest coaching in different college basketball programs. She had interest in the Montezuma vacancy, and asked Criswell for her opinion.
He advised his former player to pursue the opening at her alma mater.
"Janel has a special place in my heart," Criswell said. "For Janel to be up here coaching in the state tournament, to me, that's really special and neat."
The two coaches keep in touch often, In fact, before the Indians and Cadets played Monday evening, Burgess sent Criswell three good-luck messages.
Montezuma is in its second straight state tournament after being ousted in the quarterfinals last season by Central Decatur.
Burgess' career record at Montezuma so far in two seasons is 41-5. The Bravettes play at CAM High School at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.