Bryce Paup, of Green Bay Southwest High School, has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday.
Paup, who is in his second season as head coach, has led Southwest to victories in four of their last five games despite starting the 2008 campaign with three consecutive losses. Their most recent victory came over Ashwaubenon High School, who had previously posted a perfect 6-0 conference record before entering last Friday's game with Southwest.
"The kids are very resilient and the coaching staff did a great job," Paup said. "When you surround yourself with quality people, it becomes contagious, and that's what got us through the tough stretch of the first part of our season."
The Trojans head into their final game of the regular season against Green Bay West High School this Friday with a postseason berth well within their grasp. A win over the Wildcats would give them a conference record of 5-3 and would propel them into the WIAA State Playoffs.
Paup and his staff oversee a program made up of 120 players, including a varsity team of 59. His assistant coaching staff features Dave Bartels, Tim Birr, Chris Greisen, Frank Mattia, Chad Thiry and Tom Tomaszewski.
Paup attended Scranton (Iowa) High School where he was one of only 12 players on the school's varsity football team. He went on to play collegiately at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was an All-Gateway Conference defensive end and linebacker during his college career from 1987-89.
Chosen by the Packers in the sixth round (159th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft, Paup spent his first four professional seasons in Green Bay. A four-time Pro Bowler and 1995 NFL Defensive Player of the year, he retired in 2000 after 11 seasons in the league. During his illustrious pro career, he appeared in 148 games, starting 113 of them, totaling 545 tackles and 75 sacks.
Paup and his wife, Denise, have two sons, Alex and Nathan, and four daughters, Haley, Lauren, Paige, and Rachel.
*The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2008 high school football season. Winners are awarded several items and privileges, including a $1,000 donation to the school's football program from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL, as well as recognition of the award on packers.com.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 9 a.m. every Monday to Tim Schroeder, community outreach coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com (e-mail) or by fax at (920) 569-7302. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number, and reason he/she is deserving of the award.*
