The high school football season in Wisconsin concluded Friday with state championship games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, so let’s have some fun and pick the best coach in the Appleton area for 2024.
You can vote for the coach of the year until 3 p.m. Tuesday. You don’t have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour per device.
Here is a rundown of the coaching candidates, followed by the poll. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Binsfeld was chosen coach of the year in the Fox Valley Association after leading the Ghosts to a 6-1 record and a share of the FVA title. Kaukauna finished 9-3 overall and advanced to the state quarterfinals in Division 2 before losing to West De Pere. Binsfeld, who took over as head coach of the Ghosts in 2016, has led Kaukauna to 28 wins over the last three seasons.
Jadin was chosen coach of the year in the North Eastern Conference in his second season as head coach of the Irish. Freedom won the conference title with a 7-0 record and finished 11-1 overall, with its only loss coming against eventual state runner-up Baldwin-Woodville in the Division 4 quarterfinals.
Wrightstown falls in title game:High school football: Stratford holds off Wrightstown in WIAA Division 5 championship game
Jung led the Rockets to a share of the FVA title with Kaukauna and Kimberly. Neenah finished 9-3 overall and lost to state finalist Muskego in the Division 1 quarterfinals. The Rockets beat Kimberly twice during the season. Neenah has had three consecutive 9-win seasons under Jung, who took over as head coach of the Rockets in 2013.
Klister guided the Tigers to the Division 5 state championship game for the second year in a row. Wrightstown finished with a 12-2 record after losing to Stratford, 21-6, in the title game Thursday. The Tigers’ only other loss was to North Eastern Conference champion Freedom. Wrightstown has won 30 games in the last three years under Klister’s guidance.
Michalkiewicz led the Papermakers to a share of the FVA title with a 6-1 record. They finished 8-2 overall and lost to Neenah in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs, their second loss of the season to the Rockets. Kimberly beat Division 1 state finalist Bay Port in the season opener. Kimberly has a 31-5 record in Michalkiewicz’s three seasons as head coach.
Ryf, who took over as head coach of Winneconne in 2017, guided the Wolves to the Bay Conference championship with a 7-0 record. They finished 12-1 overall and advanced to the Division 4 state semifinals before losing to Baldwin-Woodville. The 12 wins is the most in a season in program history.
