Mike Stassi of Monona Grove High School (Monona, Wis.) has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association/Green Bay Packers Coach of the Year.
Stassi recently completed his 15th season as the head coach of the Monona Grove football program. The Silver Eagles finished the 2013 season with a perfect 14-0 record, capped off by a 21-17 victory over Greendale High School in the WIAA Division 3 State Championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., on Nov. 22.
"We've got a great team when it comes to resiliency," said Stassi. "We've been down in a few games this season, and every time these kids know that they can come back and win. They never quit. I'm so proud of our players and it's a tremendous honor to be called state champions."
Stassi began his coaching career in 1983 as an assistant at Sun Prairie High School. He then moved to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he coached for one season before returning to Sun Prairie in 1986. In 1988, he accepted an assistant coaching position at Monona Grove before being promoted to head coach in 1999.
A Madison, Wis., native, Stassi is a 1979 graduate of Monona Grove High School where he played running back under Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame inductee Dick Rundle. After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he played running back, defensive back and wide receiver under WFCA Hall of Fame inductee Dave McClain. Stassi is also the physical education teacher at Monona Grove High School.
Stassi and his staff oversee a program of 120 players, including a varsity roster of 68. His assistant coaching staff includes Kevin Attaway, Brandon Beckwith, Kevin Feick, Ann Hockett, Danny Johnson, Peter Johnson, Chris Komorowski, Shane Mata, Ryan Mayer, Brad Murphy, Mark Rundle, Ryan Stodola, Kris Tudor, Dan Weaver and Matt Wood.
Stassi and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters, Kelly and Katie, and two sons, Anthony and Troy.
In recognition of the honor, the Packers will award a $2,000 donation to the Monona Grove football program. Stassi will be presented with the award at the Packers home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 22, and honored on Jan. 26, at the WFCA All-State banquet in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
This marks the 16th year that 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 that has honored 166 coaches and programs statewide since its inception.
More information regarding this award, the All-State team and the WFCA is available at www.wifca.org
