Bill Jacklin of Slinger High School in Slinger, Wis., has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)/Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year.
In his 14th year as head coach of the Slinger Owls, Coach Bill Jacklin and his team brought home the school's second state football title. On Nov. 22, the Owls completed a perfect 14-0 season with an exciting 31-30 victory over Rice Lake in the WIAA Division 2 state championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. It was a battle all game long, with Slinger taking its first lead of the game with 3:29 remaining. After some stout defense to force a Rice Lake turnover on downs, Slinger converted a fourth and 1 to seal the game and capture the state title. For Jacklin and his program, the strong bond they created throughout the season made their state championship win even more special.
"The overwhelming word we use all the time is love," said Jacklin. "It's a word that's easily said but maybe not as easy to show or know what it truly means, and I feel like this year, if you were in that locker room, you know what love is. We talk about it. We hug each other. They were all in for each other. They get more excited for their teammates than themselves. It's amazing. As far as the state title, it means everything to me. I went to school [at Slinger]; it's my dream job. I would never leave Slinger. Being part of that program, growing up in that program, and now leading that program means the world to me. If you would've been there on Friday and saw that crowd that was behind us, it was absolutely mind-blowing. That's what makes Slinger special, and I'm really glad we could bring some excitement to the community."
Jacklin grew up in Slinger, Wis., and graduated from Slinger High School in 1988. He played offensive guard and linebacker for the Owls under coach Vic Erickson. Jacklin attended Cardinal-Stritch University where he participated in baseball, graduating in 1995. He then earned his master's degree in principal and curriculum from Cardinal-Strich in 2002. Jacklin began coaching as a middle school coach in 1994. He coached at the middle school level for several years before moving to JV and eventually varsity as an assistant. He accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater before the 2011 season.
Jacklin is honored to be named the Coach of the Year by the WFCA and the Packers, but says it was made possible by those around him.
"I'm very emotional and honored. Words can't describe it," said Jacklin. "But what I think it really means is I'm surrounded by lots of really great people and players. I truly believe it's a group award. Football is the ultimate sport. It takes a group of young men to work together, and everybody has a role to perform at a high level. It takes everybody, and that's why I love it. It's really an honor because it's your peers voting for you and that makes it that much more special."
Jacklin and his staff oversee a program of 133 players with 64 of them suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Mike Wadman, Tony Callen, Mitch Draxler, Brent Hug, Robert Traylor, Aaron Pokrzywa, Riley Becker, Marshall Olson, Bryan Ratz, Jerry Wetherall, Doc Herdrich, Joe Blanchard, Tony Spaeth and Jesse Pimental. In addition to coaching football, Jacklin is a 4th grade teacher at Addison Elementary School. Coach Jacklin has three sons, Marshall, Andrew and Chase. Chase, a senior lineman at Slinger, joined his father as a state champion this season.
About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year/Week Program:
In recognition of the honor, the Packers will award a $2,000 donation to the Slinger football program from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL Foundation. Jacklin will be honored at the WFCA All-State Banquet in the Lambeau Field Atrium. This marks the 27th year both the Green Bay Packers and WFCA have awarded the honor together. The WFCA has awarded a Coach of the Year since 1976, while the Packers have presented the same award since 1998, in addition to the Coach of the Week program. More information regarding this award, the All-State team and the WFCA is available at www.wifca.org.
