The Packers have announced that Scott Swanson of Madison La Follette High School has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week.
Swanson, in his third year as the varsity head coach of Madison La Follette, led the Lancers to an impressive 40-13 victory over Sun Prairie High School in the first round of the WIAA Division 1 Tournament on Friday, Oct. 21. The Lancers came into the tournament as No. 8 seed, while Big Eight Conference champions, Sun Prairie, entered as a No. 1 seed. The upset marked the first time in the Division 1 tournament that an eight seed has defeated a top seed since the WIAA began using one through eight seeding in 2012. These two teams had met under the lights the previous Friday night, which resulted in a victory for Sun Prairie, 31-7.
When asked what led to the change in outcome just one week later, Swanson said, "I think we were more prepared, and had a little more motivation to kind of get those guys back after they took it to us the previous week. Our coaching staff did a great job of seeing what we should change and what we should keep from the previous week. But obviously, it's about the players doing a great job on the field on Friday night."
The return of starting quarterback Julian Patton also played a key role in the victory for the Lancers. "Julian Patton had missed the Week 9 game, and had an awesome playoff game," Swanson said. "He busted off two touchdown runs of over 60 yards. We ended up scoring four unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter and that kind of blew it open. Our defense played great, and our offense did the same."
Swanson grew up in Madison and attended Madison La Follette High School, where he participated in football, basketball and tennis. Swanson played quarterback and safety under Coach Joe Gothard. Following his graduation from Madison La Follette in 2002, he went on to receive his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2007. While at La Crosse, Swanson participated in football and tennis. He played wide receiver for the UW-La Crosse Eagles under Coach Larry Terry.
Swanson began his football coaching career for his high school alma mater in 2007 as an assistant junior varsity coach. One year later, he became the offensive coordinator for the varsity football team, and in 2014, he was promoted to the head coach position.
Swanson and his staff oversee a program of 125 players, 50 of which play at the varsity level. His assistant staff includes Paul Bernhagen, Jaylen Plummer, John Springer, Nate Verhage, Eric Taylor, Troy Dean, Matt Kimmes, John Nuemann, Javell Heggs, Nick Nabholz, Randy Helgerson, Drew Smith and Michael Johnson.
In addition to coaching football, Caswell is also a physical education teacher at Sennett Middle School in Madison. Swanson and his wife, Mackenzie, have one daughter, Dynie.
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.
The coaches names in the picture from left to right are: Paul Bernhagen, Jaylen Plummer, John Springer, Nate Verhage, Eric Taylor, Scott Swanson, Troy Dean, Matt Kimmes, John Nuemann, Javell Heggs.
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