A Coach’s Return to His Roots
Mike Hollett, a former Valley City State football standout who played from 2004 to 2008 and was part of the 2005 conference championship team, has come back to North Dakota to lead his North Pole Patriots squad at a summer camp hosted by his alma mater.
The visit, which covered more than 2,700 miles, was driven as much by personal ties as by football. Hollett’s wife earned her degree from Valley City State shortly after him, and the family brought along his two sons, a senior and a freshman, to experience the campus that shaped their father’s career.
During the camp, Hollett highlighted the mentorship opportunities and coaching standards that have defined his own development, emphasizing the university’s long‑standing reputation for recruiting Alaskan athletes over three decades.
Among the prospects were sophomore offensive lineman Caiden Olson and freshman wide receiver Michael Putnam, both from North Pole, who got an up‑close look at the program’s culture and facilities.
Hollett’s seventh season as head coach of the North Pole Patriots underscores his continued commitment to high school football, while his collaboration with longtime mentors Dennis McCulloch and Gregg Horner, former coaches at Valley City, reinforced the personal connections that sparked the trip.
The camp served as a platform to showcase Valley City State’s coaching philosophy to potential recruits, reinforcing the university’s role as a gateway for Alaskan talent seeking collegiate football opportunities.
With two current players from North Pole already on the 2026 roster, the university’s recruitment pipeline remains active, reflecting a legacy that began when Hollett first arrived on campus over two decades ago.