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Newman Catholic's Paul Michlig named Packers Coach of the Week

10/04/2018, 10:30am CDT
By WFCA

The Packers have announced that Paul Michlig of Newman Catholic High School in Wausau, Wis., has been named the Green Bay Packers High School Coach of the Week. The program is presented by Jack Link’s Protein Snacks.

Michlig, in his 17th year as the head coach of Newman Catholic, led the Cardinals to a 58-34 victory over the Milford-Cissna Park Bearcats (IL), on Saturday, Sept. 29. The two undefeated teams each traveled more than three hours to meet at a neutral site, Elkhorn Area High School in Elkhorn, Wis. With the win, the Cardinals remain the WisSports.net top-ranked 8-man football team in the state. Michlig and the Cardinals look to continue their perfect season on Thursday, Oct. 4, when they travel to Bruce, Wis., to take on the Bruce High School Red Raiders.

Michlig wanted to change the Cardinals’ playing style heading into the game against the Bearcats.

“We had to play a little different than we usually do,” Michlig said. “We usually like to throw the ball around a little bit, and this game they were giving us the run. Our kids did a great job, our line did a great job and our running backs did a great job running the ball hard. We ran for a season- and a school-record 488 yards rushing. The kids adapted to what needed to be done during the week and did a great job of pounding the rock and taking what was given to them. I couldn’t be more proud of our group, playing a team like that and coming away with a victory.”

Michlig was born in Rothschild, Wis., and is an alumnus of Newman Catholic, graduating in 1996. Throughout high school he participated in football, basketball and track. Michlig played running back and defensive back for the Cardinals under Coach Kevin Grundy. Michlig received a scholarship to play running back and attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He then went on to transfer the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and graduated in 2001.

Michlig began his coaching career in 2000 as an assistant coach for Newman Catholic. After two years as an assistant coach, Michlig took over as the head coach of the Cardinals in 2002. Last season, the Cardinals converted from 11-man to 8-man football. In their first season of 8-man football, Michlig led Newman Catholic to an undefeated season, and defeated the previously unbeaten Luck High School in the 2017 8-Man Jamboree at the end of the year.

Michlig was honored to be this week’s Coach of the Week.

“It’s beyond the word of humbling,” Michlig said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without the kids. They’re the ones that play the game. For 17 years of being the head coach, it’s still all about the student athletes and our assistant coaches. At the end of the day, it’s about them and only about them. But for me personally, it’s one of the most humbling things that can happen to me in my life.”

Michlig and his staff oversee a program of 26 players. His assistant staff includes Karl Thorpe, Carl Rosenberg, Joe Ackermann, Wayne Thomson, John Roberts, Tony Noll and Mike Nicklaus. 

In addition to coaching football, Michlig is also the Athletic Director and Dean of Students at Newman Catholic.

Michlig and his wife, Ashley, have two twin sons, Parker and Jackson.

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, 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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