DELAVAN, Wis. — Three years ago, Mark Kibler was watching his alma mater Delavan-Darien flounder from the Borg Stadium bleachers. Since Kibler took over, the Comets won their first conference title in fifteen years.
"I saw the program was struggling and I just couldn't stand to be in the stands and not take it over myself," Kibler said. "We just had to implement the culture and the players took it from there."
The Comets went 1-7 in 2023 before Kibler took over. Delavan-Darien immediately turned around, going 7-4 in Kibler's first two seasons with a Rock Valley Conference title in 2025.
Delavan-Darien's success has continued this season with a 3-1 start before their matchup with nearby Big Foot.
Kibler said the culture change is summarized by one phrase: burn the ship.
"It's taken from Hernan Cortes who was coming to the new world in the 1500s," Kibler explained. "They burned the ships so that their only path was forward. That's what we do. Everything is going forward, nothing behind us."
The seniors who were there for the 1-7 season say they have noticed the change since Kibler arrived.
"My freshman year, it didn't feel like a family. It didn't feel like everyone knew each other or were friends with each other," said starting quarterback Quintin Arizola. "This season in the weight room, we've really built a friendship and brotherhood here."
"We just became more together and more of one unit when we're on the field instead of everybody playing for themselves," said receiver Kaden Gerbe. "It's been really great to see the progress over the years."
Kibler said the Comets are no longer complacent with just making the playoffs.
"Right now, this team is hungry to win a state championship," Kibler said. "We're doing it week by week, but they know the goal in the end is to take it to state."
Delavan-Darien defeated Big Foot 42-0 on Friday. The Comets are now 18-8 since Kibler took over the program.
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