Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Born June 12, 1930 in Wyocena, Wisconsin

Graduate of Mauston High School, B.S. Degree, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

Coached football at:

Hayward High School 1954-56:
Mineral Point High School 1956-57:
Platteville High School 1957-66;
UW-Platteville 1966-71;
Southwestern High School; and
Hazel Green 1980-88.
His record was 80 wins, 48 losses and 3 ties as high school varsity football coach. His record also included two championships in high school football, plus sharing two WSUC football championships as assistant coach at UW-Platteville.

Verne graduated from Mauston High School in 1948. He earned 15 varsity awards in football, basketball, baseball, boxing and track. He enrolled at UW-Platteville in 1948 where he played football.

In 1949 he enlisted in the Navy. After his discharge in 1951, he transferred to UW-La Crosse where he played football for two years. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in physical education and health.

After graduation from college Verne was hired to coach football, basketball and baseball at Hayward High School. After two years he accepted a position at Mineral Point coaching football and track. At Mineral Point his teams were SWAL runner-ups in football and Class C runner-ups at the state track meet.

Verne moved to Platteville in 1957 to teach physical education, coach football, basketball and track. While at Platteville he had a record of 52-18-3 in football. His team was undefeated in 1964, and ranked fourth in the state. He was an assistant in basketball while Platteville went 76-3 over a four-year period.

In 1976 Verne left teaching to enter private business for 13 years. During that time he was an assistant coach at UW-Platteville where he had an opportunity to work with his twin brother Vernon (a long-time defensive coordinator at UW-Platteville) on a number of successful football teams.

In 1979 Verne returned to teaching at Southwestern High School at Hazel Green and was coaching football until health problems and a subsequent heart attack forced his retirement in 1988.

He was a member of the South coaching staff in the 1985 Shrine Football Game.

Verne has lived in Platteville for 33 years. He is a member of the Platteville Elks, Charter President of the Platteville Optimist Club, served on the Platteville Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Planning Board, and Platteville Park Board. He was also Charter President of the Southwest Wisconsin Board of Realtors.