Not many teachers can say they’ve seen the school grow from its early days to the present, but Social Studies Teacher Matt Mohan can. This year, after 31 years in the classroom, he will be closing a career that has seen generations of students.
From teaching social studies to coaching basketball and volleyball, Mr. Mohan has been around for nearly all of the school’s history, leaving his mark not just through history lessons but also his emphasis on discipline and responsibility. His journey began as a student and continued as a teacher, now spanning more than three decades.
“I knew I was getting old when a kid came up to me and said, ‘Do you remember my dad?’” Mr. Mohan said. “It’s amazing to see the legacy continue through generations of students.”
After working as a sales representative in the paper business, Mohan returned to school at age 27 for the necessary education to begin teaching at De Smet in 1995.
“Teaching wasn’t my first career,” Mr. Mohan said. “I never imagined being here after graduating from De Smet.”
During his time at the school, Mohan has taught World History, American History, U.S. Government, and Geography. He also spent years coaching basketball, volleyball, and even a year of freshman tennis.
“Basketball was the main one,” Mr. Mohan said. “And the 1999 state championship – that’s my claim to fame.”
When Mohan first began teaching in the mid-1990s, the school environment looked a lot different from what it does today, mainly due to the lack of technology.
“When I got here, cell phones weren’t a thing, computers weren’t a thing, social media wasn’t a thing,” Mr. Mohan said. “All of that has changed society so much, as well as De Smet.”
Throughout his entire career, Mohan has become known for his loud, disciplined teaching style.
“I would say he’s a pretty traditional style teacher,” Theology Teacher Dr. Callahan said. “He probably teaches in a similar way to how he was taught in high school back in the 80s.”
In addition to teaching and coaching, Mohan has also been involved in student life, including working with the student government and helping lead retreats over the years.
“He is just one of those guys who is always willing to do what is needed, especially since he’s an alum; he just kind of lives and breathes this place,” Dr. Callahan said. “He just has that really warm, outgoing, extroverted spirit that people love to come back and talk to him.”
As Mohan prepares to leave the classroom, he plans to remain connected to the school community through alumni involvement and athletic events, continuing to support the programs and traditions he has been apart of for decades.
“It will be a big adjustment not being around you guys and my coworkers,” Mr. Mohan said. “But I’ll still be around whenever they need me.”
