Former pro linebacker (and realtor) Lee Kunz tackles a high-school team.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: Column

It's 7 a.m. on a weekday during the off-season, and Lee Kunz, head football coach of Wheat Ridge High School's Farmers, is hard at work drilling the team on leadership and overseeing its weightlifting.

Players who are late or don't show up must report at 6 a.m. the next day to run laps before the two-hour team class. Kunz will be there to run, to remind them how serious he is about building players into a team of contenders. After a while his message gets across.

"I love to coach; it's something that I have a real passion for," said Kunz, 41, former Wheat Ridge High School track and football star, and former University of Nebraska and Chicago Bears linebacker.

"I enjoy being around the high school kids. They're at that time in their lives when they'll be moving on to adults, and yet they still have the kid in them. For me it's great to have an opportunity to spend so much time with them."

Kunz coaches at least two hours a day, five days a week year-round, and 40-plus hours a week during football season. And now he's building a web page to record stats, schedules and rosters for the Wheat Ridge High Farmers.

But by 9:15 a.m., Kunz is busy at his day job - president of Lee Kunz Development, a stone's throw from the football field and his home. He's one of the most successful commercial real estate investors brokers and developers in Denver's western suburbs. Kunz also just completed stints as chairman of the Jefferson County Economic Council and new Broncos stadium site selection committee member.

"Being in real estate, I can see a correlation with football. Where there's growth, you'll (get) good teams," he said. "They have more rooftops and more students to draw from to build their teams."

Kunz and his wife Maria are the parents of four very sports-minded children. "Even my daughter, Cassie, will play football next fall," said Kunz. "She'll be 7 and play tackle. That should be fun to watch."

Over the years, Kunz has coached everything from soccer to baseball and football. He preaches to whomever will listen that they too, should coach youth sports.

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