Josh Fizel of Spooner High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, a program presented by the Wisconsin National Guard, the organization announced Tuesday.
Through the first three games of the 2011 season, the Spooner Rails varsity football team has steamrolled out to a 3-0 start. Last week's 28-27 double-overtime victory over the Northwestern Tigers placed Spooner in a tie on top of the Heart O' North Conference.
"We spent the week talking to our kids about having to get better and perform at a high level and I thought we executed very well," said Fizel. "As a staff and a community, we couldn't be more proud of their effort and we look forward to what they're going to give us the rest of the season."
An Elk Mound, Wis., native, Fizel is a 2003 graduate of Elk Mound High School, where he played quarterback and defensive back under head coach Dan Pedersen. Following high school Fizel attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Clare. As a freshman, Fizel began his coaching career as an assistant for his high school alma mater. Upon graduating in 2007, with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Fizel coached two more seasons as an assistant before accepting the head coaching position at Spooner in 2010. Fizel also is the physical education teacher at Spooner Elementary. Fizel and his staff oversee a program of 60 players, including a varsity roster of 35. His assistant coaching staff includes assistants Jon Griffith, Dan Haughian, Kurt Kunkel, Matt Lucius, Andrew Melton, Larry Neste and Brent Ringlien.
Fizel and his wife, Kali, have a son, Jaxson.
The Packers and the Wisconsin National Guard will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2011 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, Wisconsin National Guard, 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, youth football 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.
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