The Packers have announced that Greg Roman of Ronald Reagan High School in Milwaukee has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week. The program is presented by Jack Link's Protein Snacks.
Roman led the Huskies to a 52-12 victory over the Milwaukee-South Cardinals, on Friday, Oct. 5. The victory wraps up a perfect 6-0 Milwaukee City-Blackbourn Division record for the team, and improves their overall record to 6-2. This season marks the Huskies' first Blackbourn Division title. Roman and the Huskies now look for redemption as they turn their attention to Milwaukee-Riverside in the Milwaukee City Championship Game on Friday, Oct. 12. The two teams met in Week 5 of the regular season, with Riverside coming out on top 42-6.
While their first division title is a big accomplishment, Roman and his team have higher aspirations for this season.
"[We have] a huge opportunity to play in the City Championship on Friday," Roman said. "You want to expect it every year as a program because I think we've gotten to that point where…we're playing for a City Championship and we fully expect next year to be in that position, and then the next year to be in that position. We've achieved that this year. We've proven that this program can reach those heights. Nevertheless, you never know what's going to happen in this sport. So we want them to grasp that opportunity, have full focus for this week and just think about how special this could be if we can win on Friday."
Roman grew up in Stevens Point, Wis., and graduated from Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH), in 1990. Throughout high school he participated in football, baseball and wrestling. Roman played strong safety for the Panthers under Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach, Jerry Fitzgerald. He then went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1995.
Roman has been the head coach of Milwaukee-Reagan since the program's inception in 2015. Prior to the creation of the Huskies' individual football program, Roman was the head coach of the Milwaukee-Pulaski High School co-op football program which consisted of Milwaukee-Pulaski, Milwaukee-Reagan, and the Milwaukee High School of the Arts since 2010. Roman began his coaching career in 2005 as an assistant freshman coach for Milwaukee-Pulaski, becoming offensive coordinator for the varsity team in 2007, and then taking over as head coach.
Roman sees the Coach of the Week Award as a group effort.
"It's a validation of the kids believing in the message and what the coaching staff has been saying," Roman said. "I have a great staff, they make me look better. They're really competent guys, they're great football minds, they're hard workers and we're all on the same page. These are great kids. There's no way you can win awards as a coach, unless your kids are doing what you're asking of them. I see it as a full program award."
Roman and his staff oversee a program of 60 players, with 36 of them suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Lucas Oulahan, Chris Shefferly, Steve Collins, Brent Scott and Dave Poltrock. In addition to coaching football, Roman also teaches global politics and human geography at Ronald Reagan High School.
Roman's inspiration to become a high school coach came from his late father and mentor, George Roman. George is a member of the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and coached high school football in Wisconsin for 40 years.
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 2018 high school football season. Winners are awarded several items and privileges, including a $2,000 donation to the school's football program from the Green Bay Packers, Jack Link's Protein Snacks and the NFL Foundation, as well as recognition of the award on packers.com, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.
Winning coaches will also take part in the Jack Link's High School Coach of the Week Game Ball Delivery where they will hand the game ball over to a member of the Packers staff or referee prior to a regular season home game.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Football Outreach Specialist, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
