Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

A West De Pere man to his core, Jack graduated from the small town high school in 1984 where he captained the football, basketball, and baseball teams earning All-Conference honors in all three sports.  Under the tutelage of HOF coaches Bill Turnquist, along with Howard and John Kolstad, the Phantoms won three consecutive football conference championships and twice played in the state semifinal game.  Batten was greatly influenced by the aforementioned coaches and decided to enter the world of education with the hopes of giving back to the same degree that he received.  

Upon receiving a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics from UW-Stevens Point, Jack returned to West De Pere in 1988 and helped guide the Phantoms to another conference championship.  Teaching opportunities brought Jack to the Green Bay School district where he initially coached at GB East and taught physics at GB Preble. Those early years of coaching spent with mentor John Kolstad honed Batten’s football acumen and motivational skills through countless hours of preparation.  In 1995 the Red Devils won a conference championship and played in the state semi finals.  

Transferring his coaching skills to Green Bay Preble where he taught physics, Batten helped coordinate both sides of the ball and won 3 conference championships.  Experiencing the fun of coaching with HOF coach Pat Prochnow, the Hornets also ended up a game short of a state championship during the 2000 season.  

With the opportunity to come back home in 2006, Jack returned to West De Pere to resurrect the school’s physics program as well as help the football team earn its elusive first state championship.  The Phantoms proceeded to win seven consecutive Bay Conference championships, played in four state semi finals, three state championships, and won two gold balls.  Batten coordinated the conference leading defense each year and at one point, the program won 39 consecutive games.  

In 2014, Coach Batten took over the head coaching duties and accrued a 59-13 record winning three conference championships, playing in two state semi finals, and winning a silver ball in 2018.  He was voted conference coach of the year three times to go along with multiple assistant coach of the year awards.  

As important as football was to Batten, the classroom held equal importance.  Jack won multiple teaching awards, chaired the science department, and taught two college physics classes in addition to his coaching duties.  In both venues, Jack used his enthusiasm and love of football and physics to teach young people important values and life lessons. Coach Batten’s legacy will be his ability to build character and integrity within his players and students and the strong personal relationships he developed.