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It is an inherent skill in the Hofmann family. Mark Hofmann uses it as a commercial fisherman to deal with changes where his catch might be and his son Kyle has used it to deal with life changes.
Kyle, class of Orcas High School 2009, is nearing the end of his college football career at Pacific Lutheran University. But his path has been anything but direct.
Although on the Vikings football team as a 6’3’’, 280-pound freshman and sophomore, Kyle’s heart was somewhere between the baseline and three point line on the basketball court. But as is often the case, when one door closes, a door of opportunity opens another. He found himself misplaced and frustrated on the JV basketball squad in his sophomore year. An impromptu conversation with Vikings football coach Scott Harris was inspiration for a new, but familiar direction: football. Kyle’s skillful junior Viking year was a change in course that caught college coaches’ attentive eyes, mainly Washington State University and University of Montana. U of M tendered an offer for the offensive lineman to play in Missoula.
His freshman year in Montana looked promising, as the Grizzles had an undefeated season, but team success shifted the tide, resulting in a new coaching staff. Kyle felt again like the wrong kid on the JV squad without a supportive coach in his corner. Time to plot a new course. Enter Harris.
Kyle had talked to his parents, Mark and Dianna, about his frustrations and before long Harris contacted Dianna’s alma mater, Pacific Lutheran University. It was a perfect fit. Starting as a junior and now 6’4” and 300 pounds, Kyle was a starting offensive guard in the Northwest Conference League.
This past Saturday, PLU played Linfield in a NCAA Division III playoff. If the team lost, it will be Kyle’s last game (the Sounder went to press before results were known). Looking ahead, he will find his way amongst the currents and find a way to succeed, like he always has. Kyle is earning a degree in history and plans on getting his masters. He would like to be a teacher and will more than likely find himself back on the football field as a coach, being very attentive to the kid on JV who should be varsity.
