Ted Wilson, of Medford High School, has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Thursday.
Wilson is in his third year as the head coach at Medford, and recorded his first WIAA playoff win Tuesday night when the Raiders defeated No. 2-ranked Hayward High School by a score of 15-7. With the win, the Raiders improved their overall record to 5-5 for the season. Against Hayward, the Medford offense racked up 261 yards on the ground, and the defense held the previously undefeated Hurricanes in check, yielding just seven points, their lowest total of the season.
“We’re a very senior-led team, and the kids played outstanding,” Wilson said. “They executed the gameplan and without them, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today.”
Wilson and his staff oversee a program made up of 65 players, including a varsity team of 45. His assistant coaching staff includes Nathan Bluhm, Tran Brooks, Ross Hackbarth, Greg Klapatauskas, and Ryan Pilgrim.
A native of Menomonie, Wis., Wilson attended Rice Lake High School where he played as both an offensive and defensive lineman on the football team for head coach Ernie Kolumbus. He went on to play collegiately as a defensive lineman at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where he was a four-year letterman under head coach Ron Cardo.
He began his coaching career in 2000 as the coach of Medford’s freshman team. After spending six years in charge of the freshman and junior varsity teams, Wilson was promoted to his current position of varsity head coach in 2006.
Wilson and his wife, Jaime, have a daughter, Morgan, and a son, Ean.
The Raiders have now advanced to the second round of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs and will play host to the Lakeland High School Thunderbirds on Saturday. The previous meeting between the two Great Northern Conference rivals took place in Week 4, with Medford topping Lakeland, 14-3.
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2008 high school football season. 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, community outreach 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.
