Former Colby coach Duane Teska passes

Former Colby High School football coach Duane Teska died last week at the age of 92.  Teska was a native of Auburndale, and played on the Marshfield American Legion baseball team that played in the state legion tournament in Menasha in 1950.  He served in the U.S. Army, and then received his bachelor’s degree from UW-River Falls and a master’s degree from Kansas State.  Duane then began his teaching and coaching career at Owen-Withee High School  in 1959.  He moved to Colby in 1962, and became the Hornets head coach in 1964.  Duane coached the Hornets through the 1991 season, compiling a record of 194-78.  He won ten conference championships, advancing to the WIAA playoffs five times.  Under Duane’s leadership, the Colby football team had a 32-game win streak between 1973 and 1975, and was voted the number-one Class ‘B’ team in the state in 1974.  His 1985 team played in the Division IV championship game, losing to Westby 23-20.  Duane also coached track and wrestling at Colby, and also coached junior high basketball for 18 years.  He coached the North team in the 1992 Shrine Bowl game.  Duane was named to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993.