(NewsNation) — Dan Clement didn’t consider himself much of a student at Mankato West High School in Minnesota until he crossed paths with Coach Tim Walz, who on Wednesday will accept the Democratic nomination for vice president.
But before Walz became Minnesota’s governor and the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, he coached high school football for players like Clement, who came to know the future politician as a supportive, fair and intelligent coach who knew and understood football.
“For a guy like me, a student like me, it was tough,” Clement told “NewsNation Now” on Wednesday. “It was tough going to class. So, to be able to have a guy like Coach Walz pull me in, keep me going to class for the sake of the football team, he kind of roped me in. It was kind of the bait and switch.”
Clement said that his former coach’s support won him over by telling him that the team needed him. At one point, Clement said that he quit the team only to be brought back into the fold by Walz.
“Because of that, by the seat of my pants, I was able to graduate high school,” Clement said.
Clement, who moved out of Minnesota for years before returning with his young family, said that if it were not for Walz, he would not be supporting the Democratic presidential ticket. Instead, he said he would likely support a third-party candidate. But now, Clement — who will be at the United Center to hear his former coach accept the nomination for vice president Wednesday — said things have changed.
“With Coach Walz being on there, he’s a guy I trust,” Clement said.