Phil Ottney, coach at Glenwood City, and Dennis Thompson, coach at Racine Park, have been named as the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association/Green Bay Packers High School Co-Coaches of the Year, the Packers announced today. The award is presented to two coaches this year because of a voting tie.
In his 25th year at Glenwood City, and 19th as head coach, Ottney served as President of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association for the past two years and is beginning his two-year term as past president under current coach Dan Brunner. He will be inducted into the WFCA Hall of Fame in the spring of 2006.
Ottney is a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse graduate, having played football there under newly-inducted College Hall of Fame coach Roger Harring. He played under coach John Hansen as a prep at Osseo (Minn.) High School. He is currently the physical education teacher at Glenwood City.
Assisted by Chase Rasmussen, Steve Dummer, Joe Heinbuch, Justin Kuehndorf, Jacob Score, Gordy Hierlmeier, Jeff Cassellius and Nick Ohman, Ottney and his staff oversee a varsity team of 30 players. Married to Karen, the couple has four sons: Matthew, Dan, Garrett and Marcus.
"I would like to thank the WFCA for this honor and for all of the great things they do for our football programs in Wisconsin," Ottney said. "I would also like to thank my coaches, our school administration and staff, our players and my friends and family for their support during my battle with cancer. Their thoughts and prayers kept me strong during the season and will continue to keep my strong in my journey toward healing."
The Hilltoppers, a Division 6 school in the Dunn-St. Croix conference, own a 134-72 record with Ottney as a head coach. The team has won five conference championships including the 2005 title and made two appearances in the state semi-finals. They finished 2005 with an 11-1 record after falling in level 3 of the playoffs.
Racine Park's Dennis Thompson, in only his second year as head coach of the Panthers, finished the season with an 13-1 record including the division 1 state championship.
A Racine Park alumni, Thompson played under former head coach Phil Dobbs. He went on to play football at Concordia University. Beginning his coaching career as an assistant at Milwaukee Washington High School from 1986-87, he moved to Racine Park in 1988-the year the Panthers captured the state title-where he served as an assistant until 2004 when he assumed head coaching responsibilities. During his years as an assistant, Thompson coached current Packers tackle Kevin Barry.
Thompson, in his sixth year as physical education teacher at Racine Park, is assisted by Jim Visor, Jim Winters, Justin Davis, Derrick Marshall, Paul Sequra, Matt Bouwens, Brian Galley, Chu Graham, Randy Borgardt, Greg Nyboe, Dave Douglas, Pedro Trevino and Mike Peck. Thompson's career record is 16-7.
"To be selected out of all the coaches in Wisconsin is just a huge honor because every coach has done a good job of preparing his team. I really accept this award on behalf of the whole city of Racine and Racine Park High School. I think we had a great season, going 13-1 with the state championship I would also like to thank the parents, the school and the community who have all greatly supported our program."
Married to Stacia, the couple has a three-year-old son, Trevin.
The Packers and the WFCA recognized two outstanding high school coaches to share their Coach of the Year honors for the 2005 high school football season. As Coaches of the Year winner, Ottney and Thompson will each be awarded a $1,000 donation to the school's football program from the Green Bay Packers. They will also be presented with the award at the Packers home game vs. Seattle on Jan. 1 and honored on Jan. 29 at the WFCA all-state banquet at the Lambeau Field Atrium.
This is the fifth year both organizations have awarded the honor together. The WFCA has awarded a Coach of the Year since 1976, while the Packers have presented the same award since 1998, in addition to the Coach of the Week program which awarded 86 honors to outstanding coaches statewide.
