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Mineral Point's Andy Palzkill named Packers Coach of the Week

11/06/2019, 5:30pm CST
By WFCA

The Packers have announced that Andy Palzkill of Mineral Point High School in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week. The program is presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.

Palzkill is now in his eighth year as the varsity head coach at Mineral Point. On Friday, Nov. 1, Mineral Point defeated Lancaster 35-28 in round two of the WIAA Division 6 Football Tournament. The Pointers entered the tournament as a No. 2 seed after a perfect 9-0 regular season. The Pointers faced a tough matchup with conference foe Lancaster in round two, but Palzkill had his team ready.

“It really was a team effort; the group of kids that I have this year really feed off of each other,” said Palzkill. “They really work together and do their job, which is what we have preached to them. Our goal is to go 1-0 each week, and this was the first week that we had some real adversity this year, and our kids had to battle through it. The kids really took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves as they kept working through the game.”

Palzkill and the Pointers look to remain unbeaten as they turn their focus to their matchup against Mondovi High School in round three of the tournament.

“Mondovi’s a great program as well,” said Palzkill. “We’ll have to play another good team football game. I just think football comes down to the really simple things: you’ve got to win the turnover battle, tackle better, block better, and we really just need to do our jobs. If we can play good team football again this week, I like our chances.”

Palzkill grew up in Mineral Point where he played football, basketball, and baseball. On the football field, he played quarterback and free safety for Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach, Ron Murphy. Following high school he continued to play football at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, as a quarterback and free safety under Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Coach, John Meich. He graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 1999, and following his graduation he served as the defensive backs coach at UW-Stevens Point in 2000. In 2001, Palzkill became the head JV coach at Darlington High School, before being promoted to varsity offensive coordinator in 2007. In 2011, he became an assistant coach at his high school alma mater, Mineral Point, and was promoted to head coach of the Pointers in 2012.

For Palzkill, winning the Coach of the Week award was a reflection of the hard work his staff and players have put in this season.

“I think personally it’s a great honor, but it means more to me for our program because of the work that’s happened here the last eight years,” said Palzkill. “I have a tremendous coaching staff and an awesome group of kids. The kids do whatever we ask them to, they live in the weight room, they’re football smart, they love watching film, and they’re really able to understand what the other teams are doing to help us have an advantage when we play them. I’m very proud of our kids, I’m proud of our parents, and very grateful to my coaching staff.”

Palzkill and his staff oversee 48 players, with all 48 suiting up for varsity. Palzkill’s assistant coaches include Justin Leonard, Andy Busch, Chad Whitford, Chris Mitchell, Brock Gille, Mason McCauley, and Eric Heisner. Palzkill also serves as the guidance counselor for Mineral Point Middle and High School, and his family includes his wife, Joanna Schindler.

About the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week Program:

The Green Bay Packers Coach of the Week program, presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks, supports football outreach efforts by giving high school coaches the recognition they deserve. On a weekly basis, for ten weeks throughout the high school football season, the Packers will select one high school coach as the Coach of the Week. Each honoree will be 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. Winning coaches will also receive recognition on Packers.com, WisSports.net and Wifca.org, and will be mentioned in the Packers Gameday program.

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.

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