Back row: Brian Van Buren, Aaron Van Buren, Mike McKowen, Marc Johannes, Pete Welch
Front row: Zach Mallmann, John Quinlan, Cody Smith, Gio Flores
The Packers have announced that John Quinlan of Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis., has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week.
Quinlan, in his second year as the varsity head coach of Whitnall, led the Falcons to a 17-13 victory over their crosstown rival, the Greenfield High School Hustlin' Hawks, on Thursday, Sept. 28. The win keeps the Falcons' record perfect on the season at 7-0 (6-0 in conference), and makes them champion of the Woodland-East Conference with two weeks still to play.With the win, the Falcons also clinch a spot in the Woodland Conference Championship Game on Friday, Oct. 13.
"It was a great game," Quinlan said. "Obviously an intercity rivalry here, with both of us in Greenfield. In our division, they are the defending champs. We were able to uphold a close one, 17-13. Overall the strength of our team has got to be the senior class. There are about 20 seniors out, and it's been a ton of work in the offseason, to their credit. It's helped that we have now had a full year underneath us and the kids have kind of bought in."
Born in Brown Deer, Wis., Quinlan graduated from Marquette University High School in 1982, where he was a three sport athlete playing football, wrestling and baseball. He played free safety and wide receiver for the Hilltoppers under Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member, Coach Dick Basham. Quinlan would go on to graduate from UW-Milwaukee in 1989.
Quinlan began his football coaching career in 1983 at Marquette University High School as an assistant coach of the freshman and junior varsity teams for nine years. In 1992, he became an assistant coach for the varsity team at Whitnall. After the 1999 season, Quinlan took a break from coaching football until 2015, when he became the coach of the freshman football team at Whitnall. He became the varsity head coach for the Falcons in 2016. Quinlan is also entering his 34th year as the head wrestling coach.
Quinlan said that the award is a team recognition.
"There's a lot of dedicated coaches out there, but it's something that I'm really shocked [to win]," said Quinlan. "I think more so, it's really just an award for the whole team, especially the staff. My assistants that are with the program and oversee the program, they do a fantastic job. The offensive and defensive coordinators and position coaches, they're kind of the winners for what this award will be. I'll be accepting it in name, but it really goes to the entire staff for the great amount of time they put in here."
Quinlan and his staff oversee a program of 80 players, with 59 players suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Brian Van Buren, Aaron Van Buren, Mike McKowen, Marc Johannes, Pete Welch, Zach Mallmann, Cody Smith and Gio Flores.
In addition to coaching football, Quinlan is also a student supervisor and teaches special education at Whitnall High School.
Quinlan is engaged to fiancé Deanna, and has a son, Connor.
About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Program:
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2017 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 Foundation, as well as recognition of the award on Packers.com, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Youth Football Coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
