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Occasionally throughout the school year, we will visit a school across Eastern Carver County Schools. Some weeks the plan may be to stop in multiple classrooms by grade, or by subject. Other weeks it may highlight a certain specialist group. The purpose is to give families and our community a glimpse into the every-day learning environment happening in our buildings. A chance to spotlight the incredible work our teachers and staff do on a daily basis for our students, and to showcase the incredible work our students produce as well. So, keep your Eye on ECCS!
Al Nuness still remembers his first few days as a student supervisor at Chanhassen High School in 2022. “When I first got here, everyone was looking, but they wouldn’t speak to me. They didn’t know me; I didn’t know them. It was like pepper in a salt shaker,” he recalls.
The freshmen who entered the building alongside Nuness that year are now seniors, and they are the ones who gave him the nickname “The Legend.” It’s a title he earned long before stepping onto campus.
A Storied Career
Nuness is a University of Minnesota "M Club" Hall of Fame basketball player, having averaged over 15 points per game and earning two All-Big Ten selections. After being named the Gophers' MVP his senior season, he became the university’s first African-American full-time coach, serving under Bill Musselman, who later coached the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nuness’s influence on the game extended further as a two-time member of the NCAA Executive Committee for the Final Four.
His professional success continued off the court. He served as the Director of Ticket Sales for the Timberwolves during the franchise’s inaugural years and later became the Vice President of Sports Sales for Jostens. There, Nuness and his team were responsible for the creation of the world’s most iconic Super Bowl rings.
The Return to the Classroom
Despite his corporate success, Nuness’s heart remained in education. In the 1970s, he taught physical education and coached basketball at Minneapolis Central High School (where his roster famously included a young student named Prince). Ten years ago, he returned to the field at Hopkins High School, where he served as a hall monitor and led the Invictus Leadership Group for African American Males.
It was at Hopkins that Nuness met Chanhassen Principal Doug Bullinger. Following the disruptions of COVID-19, Nuness felt it was time for a change. He stopped by Chanhassen, knowing that Bullinger, and former Hopkins’ co-worker, Traci Meyer, were there. Nuness said, “They had an opening, so I stopped by to see what was going on. I’ve been here ever since and thoroughly enjoyed it.”
The "Kid Magnet" Retires
Having turned 80 on Feb. 19, Nuness is officially retiring at the end of this school year. The cold reception he received in 2022 is a distant memory. “Now, all of the kids come up to me. They all want candy,” he laughed. “They love the candy, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
The feeling is mutual. Chanhassen Dean of Students Chris Gallagher describes Nuness’s ability to connect with students as "amazing."
“It’s not uncommon for a student to go out of their way just for a quick check-in with Al,” Gallagher said. “They aren’t just looking for the Hi-Chews in his pocket; they want to interact with someone who always has a smile, a laugh, or a bit of advice. His energy is contagious.”
Principal Bullinger agrees: “Al is a kid magnet. He’s got a great heart and wants good things for these students, and they can feel that. He will be missed.”
A Legacy of Representation
To celebrate his 80th birthday, students and staff held a surprise "dress like Al" day, sporting tracksuits and Gopher apparel. The tribute reflected the impact he’s had by simply being himself.
Looking back on his career pivot from VP to student supervisor, Nuness recalls a conversation with legendary Hopkins coach Kenny Novak. “I was thinking about becoming a student teacher, and Kenny told me, ‘Al, these kids need you. They need to understand who you are and what you’ve lived through.’ It’s about kids seeing you in a different image.”
When students Google his name and ask what a Hall of Famer is doing in their high school hallways, Nuness has a simple answer: “I tell them I’m just trying to teach them a thing or two.”
Legendary, indeed.
- EyeOnECCS