Kurt Flaten, of Kewaunee (Wis.) High School, has been named the final Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week for the 2009 season, the organization announced Tuesday.
Flaten is in his 20th season with the Kewaunee program, his 12th as head coach. After making it to the Division 4 state championship game two out of the last three years, the Indians are now set to return to Madison once again. By virtue of their 35-20 victory over previously unbeaten Northwestern, Flaten's team is now slated to face undefeated Big Foot Union High School on Thursday, Nov. 19, at Camp Randall Stadium.
"It has been a terrific season," Flaten said. "We have a great group of seniors that have shown a lot of leadership thus far. We've really pulled it all together at the end of the season and now we're heading down to Madison in hopes of getting our first gold ball."
Flaten began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota Morris in 1989. After one year as an assistant at Kewaunee, he was named the head coach of the school's freshman team. In 1994, he was moved up to lead the junior varsity, and in 1998, became the varsity head coach.
Flaten and his staff oversee a program that features 60 players, including a varsity squad of 40. He is assisted by Travis Bruening, Joe Cassner, Duck Fifel, Jim Kleiman, Adam Murphy, Robert Murphy, Jack Novak, and Dale Patterson.
A native of Hastings, Minn., Flaten played football at Hastings High School under head coach Terry Hartman. He attended the University of Minnesota Morris where he played guard under coaches Jim Lind and Stan Zwiefel. He graduated from the school in 1990, and is currently a science teacher at Kewaunee.
Flaten and his wife, Rachael, have two sons, Erick and Sam.
The Packers will recognize one outstanding high school coach as their 'Coach of the Week' winner during the 2009 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.
