Mark Jonas of Ashwaubenon High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Thursday.
Jonas, in his second year as head coach, led the Jaguars to a 21-7 victory over the defending Fox River Classic Conference champion Bay Port last Friday. Ashwaubenon improved to 7-0 and remains the only undefeated team in the conference.
“Our season started with the Green Bay Packers 7-on-7 Tournament,” Jonas said about the June event. “Winning that tournament helped them bond and gave them a lot of confidence going into the season. The kids are kind of playing with a chip on their shoulders. They want to prove to everybody that they deserve to be considered one of the best Jaguars teams.”
A Ripon, Wis., native, Jonas is a 1981 graduate of Alleman (Ill.) High School. After high school, he played defensive end and linebacker for head coach Larry Terry at Ripon College. Upon graduating in 1985, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Reedsville (Wis.) High School. After four years, Jonas was hired at Hilbert (Wis.) High School where he coached for 11 years, five as head coach. Prior to his current position, he was also head coach at Oconomowoc High School (2000-03) and Kaukauna High School (2004-08).
His assistant coaching staff includes assistants Jim Allen, Pete Baganz, Larry Brick, Jed Manders, Dustin Gresen, Chad Van Laanen and Mike Raether. Jonas is also Ashwaubenon’s English teacher.
Jonas and his wife, Drae, have three sons, Cole, Rhett, and Shaw.
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2010 high school football season. A Brown County program has been honored with the award for each of the last 13 years. 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.
