Mark Stein, coach of Shoreland Lutheran High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the Packers announced Wednesday.
The sixth-year head coach has brought the Pacers, located in Kenosha County, to their first WIAA playoff appearance. It is only the sixth year for the varsity football program at Shoreland Lutheran.
"It's a privilege and an honor to have the NFL and the Green Bay Packers do something like this for our small high school and for our kids," Stein said. "I really appreciate it."
Stein was coached by Jack Gronholz at Martin Luther College in Minnesota and by Roger Shurltz and Norv Kock at Nebraska Lutheran High School in Waco, Neb. He served as assistant coach at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wis. from 1995-1999.
Assistant coaches at Shoreland Lutheran are Tim Treder, Larry Dickerson and Paul Strutz. Born in Crete, Ill., Stein and his wife Melissa have two daughters, Megan and Mariah, and a son, Matthew.
The owners of a 5-0 record, the Pacers travel to the University School of Milwaukee on Friday in a Midwest Classic Conference clash.
"Our record reflects a total team effort by everybody in our program-from my assistant coaches to the parents to the players," Stein said. "In the five years I've been here I couldn't be more proud of all the kids and all the parents in the past. Our current success in the weight room and offseason preparation was all set by kids that were here two or three years ago."
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2005 high school football season. Coach of the Week 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 www.NFLHS.com, the NFL's high school football Web site.
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) 569-7302. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
