Matt Hensler of Badger High School in Lake Geneva, Wis., has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)/Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year. The program is presented by Buffalo Wild Wings.
In his 17th year as head coach of the Badgers, Hensler and his team brought home the school's first state football title. On Nov. 17, the Badgers completed a perfect 14-0 season with a thrilling 34-33 victory over Waunakee in the WIAA Division 2State Championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. It was a back-and-forth battle with five lead changes in which the Badgers held a 34-27 lead heading into the final minute of the game. With just 40 seconds left, Waunakee scored a touchdown, bringing them within one point of the Badgers. Instead of opting for the extra point that would tie the game, Waunakee gambled to try and take the lead, but came up short on an incomplete 2-point conversion attempt, sealing the title for the Badgers.
"Regardless of the fact that we came out on top, I think it was one of the best high school games that I've ever been around," said Hensler. "There was plenty of drama with some just exciting, big, monster plays left and right. It was exciting. That was really my first-time experiencing Camp Randall in a high school setting as a coach, so the atmosphere was unbelievable. Our kids are pretty resilient. We've gone through a lot of different stuff this year and I think these guys have learned to face whatever it is without worrying about it too much, and to just keep the focus on the game. And boy, they did that Friday. It was fun to watch them."
Hensler graduated from Mukwonago High School in 1991, where he participated in football, basketball, track and baseball. He played offensive lineman under his dad, Coach Keith Hensler, who also won the Coach of the Year Award in 2004 and is a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member. Following high school, Hensler played football and participated in track for Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., where he graduated in 1995. Hensler's coaching career began as an assistant coach for Sherrard High School in Sherrard, Ill., in 1995. He then took an assistant coaching position from 1998 through 1999 for LaSalle-Peru High School in LaSalle, Ill. Hensler then moved back to Wisconsin where he was an assistant coach for Slinger High School in 2000. He went on take the head coaching position at West Bend West High School from 2001 until 2006. Hensler was then named the head coach of the Badgers in 2007.
Hensler is honored to be named the Coach of the Year by the WFCA and the Packers but says it is all possible because of the work of those around him.
"It's hard because this is the greatest team sport there is, and here's this giant individual award you get. And you earn this award based on the efforts of other people. So that's really hard because you have all these kids making plays, working really hard and doing these great things, and then you have all these assistant coaches coaching them up. Then all the success that happened is now focused on one person [with this award]. So it's hard to accept that. The flip side of that is, you know, from an organization like the Packers, it's awesome. And you know the real humbling and emotional part is the WFCA. When your colleagues and peers put you in that light and vote for you, it's really humbling and super emotional. When the guys you look up to yourself pin this award on you, it's equally awesome and emotional."
Hensler and his staff oversee a program of 113 players with 57 of the suiting up for the varsity games. His assistant coaching staff includes Jason Bousman, AJ Curtis, Mike Koronkiewicz, Joseph Amann, Mike McBride, Tyler VanDeVelde, Bryan Kaplan, Clint Geissler, David Davila, Ben Nugent, Jake Popanda, Ben Tennessen and Jake Kaider. In addition to coaching football, Hensler is also a physical education teacher at Badger High School. Hensler and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Erin and Sara, and one son, Jacob.
About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Year/Week Program: In recognition of the honor, the Packers will award a $4,000 donation to the Badger football program from the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Wild Wings, and the NFL Foundation. Hensler will be honored at the WFCA All-State Banquet in the Lambeau Field Atrium. This marks the 26th 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.
