Dave Wellhoefer of Omro High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Tuesday.
Wellhoefer, in his 11th year as head coach, led the Foxes to a 27-24 victory over St. Mary Springs – the No. 1 ranked team in Division 5 – last Friday to improve the team's record to 7-1. Omro's win snapped the Ledgers' 21-game winning streak, and gave Wellhoefer and his program its first conference championship since 1971.
"This group of seniors was on the varsity team when we were 0-9 two years ago," Wellhoefer said. "They stuck by each other and stuck with us coaches and I couldn't be more proud of these kids. They went out there and played with no fear and got the win and the conference championship."
A Janesville, Wis., native, Wellhoefer is a 1981 graduate of Janesville Craig High School where he played center and defensive tackle for head coach Ron Ganoung. After high school, he played center for head coach Bob Berezowski at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Upon graduating in 1996, he was hired as an assistant coach at Omro, before eventually being promoted to his current position in 2000. Wellhoefer is also the principal at Omro Elementary School.
Wellhoefer and his staff oversee a program of 52 players. He is assisted by Dan Frost, Tony Geracie, Marty Goryl, Jason Kallas, and Mark Levezow.
Wellhoefer and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Ben and Jack.
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2010 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, as well as recognition of the award on packers.com.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 9 a.m. every Monday to Tim Schroeder, youth football coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com (e-mail) or by fax at (920) 569-7302. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number, and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
