Former Warsaw football coach Phil Jensen was honored Wednesday night for his contributions to the sport. Jensen is shown with his wife Debbie (center) and daughter Samantha.

SOUTH BEND – High school football is really going to miss Phil Jensen.

That point was hammered home to me once again Wednesday night.

Jensen, who retired in December as the Warsaw football coach, was honored as the recipient of the prestigious Contributions to Football Award at the annual Moose Krause Scholar-Athlete Dinner.

The game that Jensen so passionately loves got its chance to say a very fitting thank you to the former Tiger mentor.

Jensen was not comfortable with being in the limelight Wednesday night at an outstanding annual event that honors the brightest high school football players from around the area.

Hell, he looked downright uncomfortable (and admitted as much) sporting a tie, albeit a snappy orange one adorned with black Tiger stripes.

Jensen, though, once again reminded me and a roomful of several hundred people, including area high school players, their parents and coaches, what is so right about high school athletics.

The man who established the concept of “Son”, “Student”, “Athlete” for his players in the WCHS program once again made me stop and think about what really matters.

To him, it’s family and football.

The two things that have molded and made Jensen the man he is, the educator he is and the man very deserving of the honor bestowed upon him.

Jensen, who coached the Tigers for a total of 18 seasons over two different stints from 1996-2003 and 2008-17, was the final person to be honored late Wednesday night. That fact was not lost on the self-deprecating man who is the all-time winningest coach in WCHS football history.

Phil Jensen speaks during the Moose Krause Dinner Wednesday night.

“They did not save the best for last,” remarked Jensen as addressed a group which included 44 exceptional former area high school players who were honored earlier in the evening for their incredible work in the classroom, on the field and in their schools.

Jensen, who coached for a total of 22 seasons and guided the Tigers to the program’s first playoff win in 1998, played for legendary Hall of Fame coach Chris Geesman at Penn High School and then for Bill Lynch at Butler University.

Jensen singled out a trio of individuals during his short, but meaningful speech. That group included current Plymouth coach John Barron, Jensen”s teammate at Butler, along with Kris Hueber and Troy Akers. Hueber played for Jensen at Warsaw and then returned to serve as his defensive coordinator. Akers, currently the WCHS principal, served as the Warsaw coach from 2004-07.

Jensen had some powerful words of advice for the student-athletes in attendance.

“Make a list this Spring of what you are grateful for and more importantly of the people who you are grateful for in your lives,” said Jensen. “And then go see them. Don’t text or email or call them. Go see them. Go look them in the eye and tell them and thank them and hug them.”

Jensen, whose voice choked with emotion on a couple of times during his speech, then talked about his family. His wife Debbie and daughter Samantha, a Butler graduate, were in attendance with him. Son Michael could not make it as he is taking finals to finish out his freshman year at Indiana Wesleyan University. Michael, who played quarterback for two years for his father at WCHS, is competing to be the starting signal caller in the fall when IWU plays its first-ever season on the gridiron. Jensen’s decision to step down as a coach was focused on his desire to spend more time with his family, including in the stands as a fan to watch his son’s collegiate career.

“I’ve been truly blessed,” said Jensen after taking a deep breath to collect himself. “I met Debbie in a religion class and my prayers were answered that day even though I didn’t know I was praying at the time. And Samantha, I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

Jensen, who continues to serve as the Attendance Coordinator at WCHS, did not want this evening to be about him.

“I’m truly humbled by this honor,” Jensen said. “This is about what football has done for me.”

On this night though, it was about you Coach.

It was all about what you have done for and have meant to the sport.

Trust me, the game is going to miss you.