Coach Jeff Staus was joined by his beautiful family as he was honored with a Bell Cow Award.

A Bell Cow Coach provides us a model from whom we can learn deeply and meaningfully about coaching. The term “bell cow” is not just a catchy reference to Wisconsin’s proud dairy heritage, but a useful metaphor for leadership.

Tradition has it that farmers have been known place a large bell around the neck of the “lead cow” in a herd. Knowing that the other cows tend to congregate around the lead cow, the herd can easily be found by the farmer, even in the biggest of fields or roughest of terrains. The farmer listens for the clang of the bell and knows that by finding the bell cow, they’ll find the whole herd.

What’s interesting to note about bell cows is that the other cows naturally follow them. They watch, learn from, and follow the bell cows. Bell cows pace the herd and model the way to go. In a similar fashion, we can each benefit from “bell cows” in our own lives. We can observe, listen to, learn from, and, in some cases, emulate leaders we admire. Bell cow coaches.

The Wisconsin Coaching Project is identifying and honoring Bell Cows throughout the 2021-22 academic year. These leaders change lives. They grow the good around them.

The broader Arrowhead community clearly demonstrated its affection for Coach Staus, showing up to honor him.

We gathered with Arrowhead High School staff to honor Coach Jeff Staus for his work with "Letting Kids Fly." Jeff leads and collaborates with many great coaches and partners to develop a healthy sporting experience for young people in his community. LKF is an innovative model for soccer -- and all youth sports -- to follow. It's a high quality program with great coaches and top-level athletes. But it's also fun, affordable, and compatible with a balanced life. In a broader environment of ramped-up, "all-in" youth sport we need more models like LKF. Coach Staus, congratulations and thank you for showing us better way!

Athletic Director Ryan Mangan joined Professor Miller and Coach Staus. The Arrowhead School District Administration is a key partner in supporting and advancing the work of LKF.

Friends, relatives and LKF coaches joined the celebration. A community coming together.

The Staus family has dairy farming in its history -- so the Bell Cow Award is doubly relevant! Here, Coach Staus is joined by his wonderful parents.

To learn more about Coach Staus, listen to our SGG podcast interview with him:

UW-Madison's new online Sports Leadership program offers a master's degree that students can earn flexibly. We aim to make an impact on sports in Wisconsin and beyond. We seek to learn from "bell cows" like Coach Staus! Come join us!