Brian Pottinger, of Reedsburg (Wis.) High School, has been named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association/Green Bay Packers Coach of the Year, the organizations announced Thursday.
Pottinger recently completed his 17th season in the coaching profession, the last four of which have come as the head coach at Reedsburg. The Beavers finished the 2009 season with an 11-3 record, capped off by a 34-27 win over West De Pere in the WIAA Division 3 State Championship at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Nov. 20.
Reedsburg's appearance in the state final was their second in as many years, having reached the game in 2008, but falling just short to Waupaca by a score of 21-20.
"'On A Mission' was the theme to our season this year," Pottinger said. "Overall, it was a sense of fulfillment and redemption for the players and coaches by getting back to the championship game and actually winning it this year. As coaches, we couldn't be more proud of our kids; it was a fun year."
Pottinger began his coaching career in 1993 as an assistant at Rock Island (Ill.) High School. He then moved to Augustana (Ill.) College where he was the quarterbacks coach for two seasons, before moving back into the high-school ranks to serve as the offensive coordinator at Alleman (Ill.) High School. He accepted the head-coaching position at Reedsburg in 2006.
A native of Lake Forest, Ill., Pottinger played football at Belvidere (Ill.) High School where his father, Laverne, was the head coach. He later attended Augustana College where he played quarterback under head coach Bob Reade before graduating in 1992.
Pottinger and his staff oversee a program of 42 varsity players. His assistant coaching staff includes Matt Bauer, Matt Belkamp, John Benish, Clint Beyer, Chet Hillary, Russ Lankey, Justin Leonard, Brad Schultz, Joe Seep, and Gary Syftestad.
In recognition of the honor, the Packers will award a $2,000 donation to the school's football program. Pottinger will be presented with the award at the Packers home game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 27, and honored on Jan. 31 at the WFCA All-State banquet in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
This marks the ninth year both the Green Bay Packers and WFCA have awarded the honor together. The WFCA has awarded a Coach of the Year since 1976, while the Packers presented the same award since 1998, in addition to the Coach of the Week program that has honored 128 coaches and programs statewide since its inception.
More information regarding this award, the All-State team and the WFCA is available here.
