Brad Westphal, head coach of the Menasha High School Bluejays, has been selected as the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week for Week 1, the Packers announced Wednesday.
Westphal led his team to 27-0 win last Friday over Kimberly High School, breaking Menasha's 27-game losing streak. The varsity squad is comprised of 57 players with 12 assistant coaches. This is Westphal's 15th season as a head coach on the high school level having coached at Neillsville-Granton High School (1989-2000) and began his tenure at Menasha, of the Fox Valley Association, in 2000. He was the defensive coordinator at Mosinee High School from 1984-89, serving under Bob Coy, a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Westphal played football at Menasha High School under James Corrigan. He played collegiately for the University of Wisconsin - Oskosh Titans under WFCA Hall of Fame coach Dave Hochtritt. Westphal teaches civics/government at the high school.
Westphal's talents are not limited to just football. He runs the Menasha Area Speed and Strength program, working with approximately 250 male and female athletes at the high school.
"We're one of the smaller schools in the conference, so we believe we have to work a little harder than everyone else to succeed," Westphal said. "I think our message of commitment, character and hard work is paying off."
Menasha has one win under their belt this season and Westphal envisions more victories for the team in the near future. He acknowledges that the Fox Valley Association is a tough football conference, but said his team is ready to play good football every game.
"I think the past two years Menasha was an afterthought on everyone's schedule," Westphal said. "I don't think we're an afterthought anymore."
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their Coach of the Week winner during the 2003 high school football season. As a Coach of the Week winner, Westphal and future recipients will be 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 www.NFLHS.com, the NFL's high school football website.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 9 a.m. every Monday to Cathy A. Dworak, Manager of Community Relations, at coachoftheweek@packers.com (e-mail) or by fax at (920) 490-5937. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number, and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
