The Packers have announced that Tim Wagner of Johnson Creek High School in Johnson Creek, Wis., has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week. The program is presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.
Wagner, in his 32nd year as the varsity head coach of Johnson Creek, led the Bluejays to a 14-6 victory over the Fall River Pirates on Friday, Sept. 21. Both teams entered the contest undefeated, knowing that the winner would be in prime position to capture the Trailways – Small Conference title. The Bluejays are in search of their first conference championship since 2007. Wagner and the Bluejays look to remain perfect on the season as they travel to Randolph High School to take on the Rockets on Friday, Sept. 28.
Wagner knew last Friday would be a great test for his team.
“Number one, it’s the kids and my assistant coaches who put in all the leg work for [the game],” Wagner said. “We played physical football. We played mistake free football for the most part. We talk all week about mental toughness and making plays, and that’s exactly what our kids did on Friday night.”
Wagner was born in Watertown, Wis., and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1980. Throughout high school, he participated in football, basketball and baseball. Wagner played cornerback and running back for the Eagles under head coach Jim Knoblauch. Following high school, he went on to graduate from UW-Whitewater in 1984. While at Whitewater, Wagner played basketball and baseball for the Warhawks.
Wagner began his coaching career in 1984 as an assistant coach for the Palmyra-Eagle High School freshman team. In 1985, Wagner took a position as an assistant varsity coach for Tomahawk High School, and in 1987, he became head varsity coach for Johnson Creek. In 2014, Wagner was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Wagner said his players and assistant coaches deserve the credit for the Coach of the Week Award.
“It’s all about the kids and the coaches around me that make these things happen,” Wagner said. “I get the award, but it’s not about me, it’s about our program. Our kids and my assistant coaches are top notch. The hard work of my assistant coaches, I’ve got a great group of guys that put in a lot of work and effort on the weekends obviously with scouting reports. When you do things the right way, success comes and things like this happen…all the accolades go to those guys.”
Wagner and his staff oversee a program of 41 players, with 33 of them suiting up for varsity games. His assistant staff includes Kyle Collins, Sam Hernandez, Tyler Huber and Brady Ramseier.
In addition to coaching football, Wagner is also a science teacher at Johnson Creek Middle School.
Wagner gives a lot of credit for his coaching success to his wife, Denise. He also attributes his morals and values to his parents John and Diane Wagner, who still attend all of his games.
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 2018 high school football season. Winners are awarded several items and privileges, including a $2,000 donation to the school’s football program from the Green Bay Packers, Jack Link’s Protein Snacks and the NFL Foundation, as well as recognition of the award on Packers.com, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.
Winning coaches will also take part in the Jack Link’s High School Coach of the Week Game Ball Delivery where they will hand the game ball over to a member of the Packers staff or referee prior to a regular season home game.
Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Football Outreach Specialist, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee’s name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.
via press release