Wings to Soar Paperback – March 13, 2025

Touted as one of the best books on team management and team building, Wings to Soar is a powerful story from the annuls of sports history and team culture. From team leadership and management to player development to building a winning culture, legendary Air Force coach, Ken Hatfield, transformed a struggling program to championship status. Wings to Soar stands out as the best in football history books.In Colorado Springs, 130 new members of the Air Force Academy’s Class of ’84 had just begun their collective journeys as FALCON football players.Second-year Head Coach – Ken Hatfield was looking for a “jump start” to transform a struggling program. The Falcons were exiting their independent status within the NCAA and entering the Western Athletic Conference as its newest member.The change would also bring a move away from a traditional look on the field and the introduction of the triple option “wishbone” attack under the highly energetic and quotable Offensive Coordinator—Fisher DeBerry. Close to a dozen freshmen were immediately thrust into action, and I was one of those fortunate “Doolies.”The Class of ’84 would take their lumps in that first season as FALCONS (2-9-1), but would finish four years later with much to show for the effort:Ranked 13th in the nation (Final AP Coach's poll)Win consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophies (defeat ARMY/NAVY)Defeat Notre Dame back-to-back seasons (HOME/AWAY)Win consecutive Bowl Games over SEC opponents (Hall of Fame & Independence)About the AuthorTed Sundquist is a USAFA graduate (’84) and a four-year letterman for the Falcons, co-captain his senior season (10-2 & 13th national ranking). He coached for the program in ‘84, and ‘87–‘92, the last two seasons as Head Coach of USAFA Prep School. From ‘85– ‘86, he served as an Intelligence Officer (6912th ESG, Berlin, Germany), and was a member of the US National Bobsled Team, competing in the ‘88 Olympic Trials.A 16-year Front Office Executive with the NFL’s Denver Broncos (’92–‘08), he was a back-to-back Super Bowl Champion (’97 & ‘98). Sundquist served as the club’s GM from ‘02–‘08. He founded Sports Virtual Training Systems, Inc., and was awarded a US Patent for his design of a state-of-the-art, virtual training system for quarterbacks. He is the author of two books; Taking Your Team to the Top—How to Manage and Train Great Teams Like the Pros, and Wings to Soar – How the ‘84 Bolt Brothers Transformed Air Force Football.What Readers Are Saying About Wings to Soar"Your effort in this fantastic book will be treasured not just by your group, but everyone peripherally involved with you all. You HONORED so many in your book, what a gift to us all, thank you!"Dave Carraway - United States Air Force Academy, AFA Football, Class of 1981"Awesome! Love it! Was privileged along with some GREAT men to live this!"Mark Melcher - United States Air Force Academy, AFA Football, Class of 1985"Everyone associated with this team needs to have one. Absolutely great stuff!!"John Weigand - United States Air Force Academy, AFA Football, Class of 1984This is so much more than a “coffee table book!” Besides being the perfect size, it brings in all the stories, what we went through at the zoo, personally, on the team, the quotes from others. Amazing!!Jeff Huff - United States Air Force Academy, AFA Football, Class of 1984 Read more