Jed Kennedy, of Kenosha Bradford High School, has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association/Green Bay Packers Coach of the Year, a program presented by the Wisconsin National Guard, the organization announced Wednesday.
Kennedy recently completed his 5th season as the head coach of the Kenosha Bradford football program. The Red Devils finished the 2011 season with a 14-0 record, capped off by a 7-0 win over Wisconsin Rapids in the WIAA Division 1 State Championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 18.
“It was a very good season for us this year,” said Kennedy. “We were able to overcome many obstacles, which included losing five starters to season ending injuries. Our kids really bought into the, ‘team first’ mentality. Even though the names on the backs of the jerseys may change, our expectations wouldn’t. Both players and coaches worked extremely hard and put everything they had into our football program.”
Kennedy began his coaching career in 2002 as an assistant at the University Wisconsin-River Falls. He then moved to Lake Brantley (Flo.) High School where he was the linebackers coach for two seasons before serving two years as the head coach at McArthur (Ill.) High School. He accepted the head-coaching position at Kenosha Bradford in 2007.
An Alma, Wis., native, Kennedy is a 1998 graduate of Alma High School where he played running back and linebacker. After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he played linebacker for head coach John O’Grady. Kennedy is currently the athletic director and dean of students at Kenosha Bradford High School.
Kennedy and his staff oversee a program of 150 players, including a varsity roster of 68. His assistant coaching staff includes Jim Camerota, Jason Sonnenberg, Steve Jacob, Scott Corrao, Billy Moore, Jon Grayson, Scott Steger, John Choi, Mike Meteyard, Jeremy Sowma, Matt Chwala, Jacob Ruff, Duane Sturino, Aaron Williams, Ken Baratta, Tony Nicolas, Josh Feekes, and Shawnell Gross.
Kennedy and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters, Makenna and Shaelyn.
In recognition of the honor, the Packers, along with the Wisconsin National Guard, will award a $3,000 donation to the school's football program. Kennedy will be presented with the award at the Packers home game against the Detroit Lions on Jan. 1, and honored on Jan. 29 at the WFCA All-State banquet in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
This marks the eleventh year 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 presented the same award since 1998, in addition to the Coach of the Week program that has honored 148 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
