Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

The Packers have announced that Travis Larson of Ashland High School in Ashland, Wis., has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week. The program is presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.

Larson, in his second year as the varsity head coach of Ashland, led the Oredockers to a 26-20 victory over the Antigo High School Red Robins, on Friday, Aug. 31. With the win over the Red Robins, the Oredockers improved their record to 2-1 on the season. This marks the first time that Ashland has been victorious against Antigo since joining the Great Northern Conference in 2010. The Oredockers are now set to face Mosinee High School at home on Friday, Sept. 7.

Ashland principal Brian Trettin believes Larson’s impact on the program goes beyond results on the football field.

“Travis Larson embodies exactly what a high school coach should inspire to be,” Trettin said. “He is a man of character that puts his heart and soul into his program. Every day after practice he has a leadership course for his seniors on how to lead and be men of character. He, his staff and his student athletes volunteer countless hours in the community, giving back by working at the civic center, helping at community clean-ups and working countless hours in the youth program.”

Larson was born in Ashland, Wis., and graduated from Ashland High School in 2004. In high school, Larson played football for Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member, Tom Mestelle. Following high school, Larson continued his football career at the College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) before graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2009.

Larson began his coaching career with the freshman team at Ashland right after graduating college and has been with the program ever since. After nearly a decade with the team, Larson was named head coach for the 2017 season.

Larson said the Coach of the Week award is a compliment to the work put in by his team and fellow coaches.

“It means a great deal to me personally. It’s quite an honor,” said Larson. “It has one percent to do with me, and 99 percent of the credit goes to the players, the staff and everyone involved in our program. I don’t even know if I can take one percent of the credit. I’m not playing the game, my players are. I play a small role.”

Larson and his staff oversee a program of 48 players. His assistant staff includes Steve Barnes, Quinn Hobbs, Larry Doten, Craig Coffland, Bob Blaschke, Drew Emmert and Rick Tutor.

Larson and his wife, Nancy, have three children.

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 2018 high school football season. Winners are 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 Foundation, as well as recognition of the award on packers.com, Wissports.net and Wifca.org.  

Winning coaches will also take part in the Jack Link’s High School Coach of the Week Game Ball Delivery where they will hand the game ball over to a member of the Packers staff or referee prior to a regular season home game.  

Nominations for Coach of the Week should be submitted by 10 a.m. every Monday to Ryan Fencl, Youth Football Coordinator, at coachoftheweek@packers.com. Please include the nominee’s name, address, school, phone number and reason he/she is deserving of the award.