High School Coach Surprises His Students After Returning From Military Service

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the brave men and women of our military are heroes, and should be treated as such when they get back home.

Veterans returning from combat deserve the utmost respect, which is why it was so heartwarming to see this high school coach get a hero’s welcome from his students when he surprised them with a visit.

Drew Olson, pictured above with his family, spent five months serving in Afghanistan as an Army National Guard captain, where he was originally expecting to stay until October. His homecoming came early in March, and his wife Tina their two children were so happy to have daddy back at home after serving overseas.

When not in active service, Drew is a history teacher as well as a football and basketball coach at Northridge High School in Layton, Utah. He was well-loved by all students at the school, and his absence hit them hard.

The feeling was mutual, too – Drew loved those kids, which is why, when it was time to come home, It was only right for him to return the love with an unannounced visit.

Sure enough, the students jumped right out of their seats and tackled their favorite teacher who had been missed so much around the school. The joyous reunion was shared online, and you can watch the amazing video below:

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and seeing the students’ reaction in the video above, it’s pretty hard to argue with that. Olsen told Inside Edition that he and the students had been in correspondence since he left for Afghanistan.

“They kept in contact with me while I was gone, sent me birthday letters, care packages.”

He added that their bond “just continues to grow stronger each and every day and it’s something that’s always a positive in my life.”

Deployed HS Football Coach Surprises Players With Early Return A high school football coach from Utah surprised his players when he came home early from a deployment in Afghanistan. The video of them going nuts is pretty spectacular. https://t.co/IcLP3Sy25i

— 98ROCK TAMPA BAY (@98rocktampabay) March 11, 2019

He also spoke on how the bond between himself and the students became so strong in the first place:

“As a coach you experience many ups and downs with all of your athletes, you celebrate victories together, you share in losses together, fight through adversity together.”

As much as Coach Drew and the students love each other, family comes first, so his first stop, of course, was paying a visit to his wife, Tina, and their two kids, 4-year-old Chase and 2-year-old Grey.

A high school basketball coach in Utah surprised his students after returning home from his Afghanistan deployment. https://t.co/hue7JlBK40 pic.twitter.com/Qs0ZJvz6us

— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) March 11, 2019

What an adorable young family they are!

In response to the reception he got from the students, Drew said in the interview with Inside Edition that it was a moment he will carry with him forever.

“I don’t even know how to describe that moment that took place in my classroom, it’s something very special that I will never forget and always hold tight to me.”

High school teachers aren’t always liked by their students, so it’s pretty amazing to see these kids give Drew the love and adoration that he deserves, especially after his service.

Thank you so much for your service, Coach Olson, and welcome home!

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