Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Wade Vandervest of Algoma High School has been named Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week, the organization announced Wednesday.

Vandervest, in his 12th season as the head coach and 14th with the Algoma program, led the Wolves to a 41-0 victory over Hilbert on Friday, Oct. 18, to finish the regular season undefeated (8-0) for the first time in school history. Friday’s victory also brought the Wolves their first undisputed conference championship since 1994.  Vandervest’s team will host the 4-5 Auburndale Apaches on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the first round of the WIAA State Tournament.    

“It all started last year when we got beat by Saint Mary Springs in the playoffs,” said Vandervest. “At that point, our captains and players found out what it takes to be a great program. Since then, they bought into the system and have been able to execute what we’ve been trying to accomplish.”

An Algoma, Wis., native, Vandervest is a 1994 graduate of Algoma High School, where he played fullback and defensive back under former Packers Coach of the Week and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee Stephen Mayheu. After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Upon graduating in 1998, Vandervest was hired as an assistant coach at Algoma, before being promoted to head coach in 2002. Vandervest is also the school’s math teacher.

Vandervest and his staff oversee a program of 39 players. His assistant coaching staff includes Dean Blahnik, Mike Kruis and Mark Prokash.

Vandervest and his wife, Jodi, have two children, Julia and Grant.

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 2013 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, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.

Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Tim Schroeder, youth football coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com or by fax at (920) 569-7302. Please include the nominee's name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.