The Green Bay Packers have announced that Tyler Kramer of Wausau East High School in Wausau, Wis., has been named the Packers High School Coach of the Week.
In his second year as varsity head coach of Wausau East, Kramer has the Lumberjacks in the WIAA Football Playoffs for the first time in 12 years and hosting their first playoff contest since 2007. After playing 8-man football in 2021 and being unable to field a varsity roster in 2022, Coach Kramer's leadership and unwavering belief in the Wausau East program have the Lumberjacks ready for a 2024 playoff run.
"Last year we went 2-7 and made a lot of progress on things, but those kids had never learned how to play varsity football yet; their only experience was JV or varsity reserve," said Kramer. "I think going into the offseason knowing that this is different now, guys having the varsity experience and knowing that we don't have the excuse of not playing varsity anymore [helped with this year's turnaround]."
Off the field, Kramer has emphasized supporting fellow Wausau East students and volunteering in the community, realizing that he and his coaching staff set an example for the players.
"I think just encouraging them to be involved in anything that they can," he said. "Volunteering in different ways. Just getting involved in any way that we can. We've kind of hit the ground running with that stuff, and the kids know if I'm [volunteering] and the other coaches are doing it, there's no excuse for them not to do it, and I think we all end up having a good time with it."
Kramer grew up in Wausau, Wis., and graduated from Wausau East High School in 2017. He played offensive tackle and defensive end for the Lumberjacks under head coach Tom Tourtillott. Kramer began at Wausau East as a volunteer freshman assistant coach in 2018 and climbed the coaching ranks over the next few seasons. Kramer was officially named the head coach of his alma mater in 2023.
Kramer is honored to win the Coach of the Week award but credits the hard work of everyone involved in the program.
"To be here and get our second six-win season in the last 20 years, it just shows that what we're doing are the best things for the program," Kramer said. "It's an honor. It's really just showing off the community, the kids and everybody's hard work that's gone into this season. I think it's kind of a culmination of all the work that has gone into this season and the foundation we're setting for future years."
Kramer and his staff oversee a program of about 80 players with 45 of them suiting up for the varsity games. His assistants include Dan Garrett, Kong Meng Xiong, Nathan Kramer, Brady Schmidt, Anthony Marquardt, Zak Kachel, Dave Blaskowski, Dave Coenen and Tom McCormick. In addition to coaching, Kramer works at Greenheck Fan Corporation.
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.
