The Green Bay Packers have announced that Terry Laube of Owen-Withee High School in Owen, Wis., has been named the Packers High School Coach of the Week.
Laube, in his 36th season as head coach of the Owen-Withee Blackhawks, led his program to an undefeated 12-0 season that culminated with the Blackhawks winning the 2024 WIAA 8-player football state title. It was Laube's fourth state championship as head coach of the Blackhawks and the program's first title in 8-player football since moving from 11-player in 2020. This year's team had big dreams to make a state championship run, and their team motto of "one family willing to take a risk" pushed the Blackhawks to buy in and bring a gold ball back to Owen-Withee.
"These boys had a goal, and they had a dream," said Laube. "This journey that we took started out way back in August, and we have really accomplished a lot. This is a group of kids that is really unselfish; they played for one another throughout the course of the year. Great kids make great teams, but great character kids make state champions. I've been around this long enough to know what it takes, and when you've got those kinds of individuals that live a dream out and you can be a part of that, makes it pretty darn special."
After a tough transition from 11-player football to 8-player football, the undefeated 2022 Blackhawks were ineligible to qualify for the playoffs, giving this year's team even more motivation to make a run to a state championship.
"With the support of the community, the 23 kids that were involved this year and the great football tradition here at Owen-Withee, I think we are back on the right track," said Laube.
Coach Laube grew up in Owen, Wis., and graduated from Owen-Withee High School in 1973. Laube played running back and defensive back for the Blackhawks before going on to play safety at the University of Wisconsin - Superior. Laube's decorated college career included NAIA All-American honors and the school record for tackles (640), earning him a free agent tryout with the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the UW-Superior Hall of Fame in 2003. Laube began coaching as an assistant at Owen-Withee in 1987 before becoming the head coach of his alma mater in 1989. In 2019, Coach Laube was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The longtime coach is honored to win the Coach of the Week award but is quick to recognize others.
"When you win something like this, it's because of other people", said Laube. "It's because of the coaching staff I have and the kids I was able to coach this year. That kind of success we had and being able to play in the state championship really identifies the work that goes into a season like this. Being selected for an award like this is truly special."
Laube and his staff oversee a program of 23 players with all of them suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Harry Mitchell, Rick Englebretson, Dylan Kaae, Jeff Strzok, Caleb Green, Zach Feind, Albert Goerlitz, Jeff Greschner, Steve Kadolph and Justin Mueller. In addition to coaching, Laube owns and operates Hanson Masonry & Concrete, LLC, located in Owen, Wis. He and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 45 years. They have two sons, Jason and Ryan, and one daughter, Lindsey.
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 2024 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 Jake Krueger, Football Outreach Coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
