The Packers have announced that Brent Engen of Appleton West High School has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week.
Engen, in his eighth year as the varsity head coach of Appleton West, led the Terrors to a 34-28 victory over crosstown rival Appleton North, on Friday, Sept. 23, marking the first time Appleton West defeated Appleton North since 2003.
Friday's win also held special meaning for Engen as it took place at Appleton North on Paul Engen Field, which is named after his father. Paul Engen, a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, was a coach and athletic director at Appleton West and Appleton North and currently is a member of his son's coaching staff at Appleton West.
With the win over the Lightning, the Terrors improved their record to 4-2 on the season. Appleton West is second in the Valley Football Association-North Conference behind Kimberly High School, who they will face at home this week.
"It was an emotional victory for our football team, school and community. Appleton North is an elite program not only in our area, but they are also widely respected across the state," Engen said. "Going into their stadium on their homecoming made for a great atmosphere, and having the win made it even more exciting for our team. It was great for the city of Appleton to have two good football teams playing at a high level."
Last year was the was the first year Appleton West had a winning regular season record since 2004. Under Engen, the Terrors have begun to grow as a football program.
"I have been fortunate to be around a lot of great coaches in high school and college," Engen said. "It was kind of a brick-by-brick approach that we had to take to look at how we get ourselves prepared and put our athletes in the positions for them to be successful. I credit our kids and I've always said 'Players win games,' and our kids are doing a great job."
Engen was born in Winona, Minn. He graduated from Appleton West High School in 1981, where he played football for his father as an offensive guard, linebacker and kicker. He went on to receive his degree from UW-Whitewater in 1985, where he played nose guard and was a team captain his senior year. Engen played for the Warhawks under coach Bob Berezowitz and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member, Forrest Perkins.
Engen began his coaching career for Appleton West as a volunteer defensive coach in 1990. He was named the head coach of the Terrors in 2009. In addition to coaching football, Engen also teaches special education at Appleton West High School.
Engen and his staff oversee a program of 92 players, including 60 players that play at the varsity level. His assistant staff includes Paul Engen, Kyle Tollefson, Jay Coonen, Kurt Beining, Doug Sunke, Josh Young, Mark Miskell, Jake Knuppel, Brandon Barker, and Adam Fritsch.
Engen and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Alyson and Kirsten.
About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Program:
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2016 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 Foundation, as well as recognition of the award on Packers.com, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Youth Football Coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
