The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association high school football season concluded last week with state championships across seven divisions. Grafton captured its first state championship since 1982 with a dramatic 17-15 last-second victory over Reedsburg in the Division 3 title game. Arrowhead also captured a gold ball in Division 1, the program’s seventh all time, in an 18-15 thriller over defending D1 champion Bay Port.
Now that the dust has settled, we want you to tell us which coach had the biggest impact on their program’s 2025 campaign.
You can vote for the coach of the year until 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. You don’t have to be a subscriber to vote. Votes are limited to one per hour per device.
Here is the breakdown of each coach, followed by the ballot. If the poll does not display, refresh your browser.
Greg Brazgel, Lake Country Lutheran
It was another banner year for Brazgel and the Lightning, as LCL shared the Metro Classic Conference title with 2024 Division 4 state champion Racine St. Catherine’s and advanced to the state semifinals in Division 5. The Lightning went 11-2 this season, including an eight-game winning streak that extended into postseason play, nabbing a No. 1 seed in the D5 bracket. Defensive end Adam Anderson was one of the state’s most productive edges under Brazgel, earning a Wisconsin Coaches Football Association all-state selection for the Lightning.
Louis Brown, Franklin
The swan song for Franklin coach Louis Brown may not have ended where the Sabers wanted it to, but his final season at the helm was a stellar one. Brown and the Sabers won the outright Southeast Conference title, their eighth straight season with at least a share of the championship. The Sabers were No. 1 in Division 1 for much of the season with an 11-1 mark, going unbeaten in SEC play and earning a No. 1 seed in the D1 playoff bracket. Two of Brown’s best, running back Rob Beglinger and defensive back Dominick Walters, were both named to the WFCA’s all-state team.
Ben Farley, Brookfield East
A team that was a tough bunch to deal with this season was co-Greater Metro Conference champion Brookfield East, led by coach Ben Farley. The Spartans started hot at 4-1, including a win over eventual co-GMC champion Sussex Hamilton. After a Week 6 loss to Muskego, the Spartans put together four straight victories, advancing to the second round of the Division 1 playoffs to finish 8-3 on the season. Along with their first conference title since 2012, the Spartans had the GMC’s defensive back of the year and the defensive lineman of the year in Jack Murray and Lincoln Goldsmith.
Anton Graham, Racine Case
Graham and the Eagles were eager to prove in 2025 that they weren’t a one-year wonder in 2024. Case did just that, finishing 8-3 after a tough 1-2 start to the season. The Eagles won seven straight games at one point, advancing to the second round of the Division 1 playoffs. South Dakota State recruit and Case star Michael Farr was one of the four receivers named to the WFCA’s large school all-state team this season.
Justin Gumm, Sussex Hamilton
For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Gumm and the Chargers captured at least a share of the Greater Metro Conference crown. Hamilton went 9-3 this season, including a 6-1 mark in GMC play to win the title. The Chargers defeated Kimberly (twice), Racine Case and Marquette (twice) on their way to the state quarterfinal round in Division 1. Junior offensive lineman Hunter Mallinger was named to the WFCA’s all-state team for the Chargers under Gumm.
Matt Harris, Arrowhead
For the first time in a decade, the Arrowhead Warhawks played for a state title and Harris’ bunch brought back the seventh state title in the program’s illustrious history in an 18-15 frantic finish over defending champion Bay Port in the Division 1 state title game. The Warhawks went 13-1 this season, earning a No. 1 seed in the D1 bracket and defeating Marquette, Pewaukee, Mukwonago, Sussex Hamilton (twice) and Waunakee on their way to a gold ball this season.
Rick Hoppert, Martin Luther
A program that quietly had a solid season in 2025 was Martin Luther, led by coach Rick Hoppert. The Spartans went 8-4 this season, advancing to the state quarterfinals in Division 3. After an opening-week defeat to New Berlin West, the Spartans won six of their next seven games during the regular season. In the postseason, Martin Luther won one of the best games of the D3 playoffs in a 51-49 shootout over No. 2 seed Whitnall.
Ken Krause, Muskego
Although the Warriors fell one win shy of a return trip to Madison for the Division 1 state title game, the longtime Muskego head coach had a stellar season at the helm. The Warriors won the outright Classic 8 title with an overall record of 11-2, advancing to the D1 state semifinal round as a No. 1 seed in the bracket. Running back Jackson Niemiec was named the C8’s offensive player of the year and to the WFCA’s all-state team for the Warriors.
Steve Morris, Kenosha Bradford
Coming into the 2025 season, Kenosha Bradford hadn’t won five games in a season since winning the 2011 Division 1 state title. First-year head coach Steve Morris, a former Racine Horlick great, quickly changed the culture and expectations for the Red Devils in his first season at the helm. Bradford won its first five games of the season and finished 7-3 for a third-place finish in the Southeast Conference and its best season in almost a decade and a half.
Jim Norris, Grafton
For the first time since 1982, the Grafton Black Hawks won a high school state football championship with a thrilling 17-15 victory over Reedsburg in the WIAA Division 3 state title game. Norris has completely changed the culture and expectations at Grafton over the last few seasons, leading the Black Hawks to another Woodland Conference title and a No. 1 seed in the D3 playoff bracket this season. The Black Hawks captured the first gold ball in program history since their heyday after Graysen Bollech’s dramatic 35-yard field goal with 6 seconds left in the title game.
Taylor Ripplinger, West Bend West
For the first time in nearly 20 seasons, West Bend West started a season with three straight victories under fourth-year coach Taylor Ripplinger. The Spartans had a strong 7-3 campaign out of the North Shore Conference this season with their three losses coming to Division 2 state semifinalist and conference champion Homestead and 2024 D2 state champion Slinger. After the Spartans dropped their first matchup with Slinger in Week 4, they reeled off four straight victories before a tight one-possession loss to Homestead to close the regular season. Ripplinger has WBW’s trajectory pointing in a positive direction heading into 2026.
Greg Roman, Milwaukee Reagan
Roman and the Huskies dominated play within the Milwaukee City Conference this season, winning the MCC title and earning a No. 2 seed in the Division 1 bracket. Reagan finished 9-2 on the season with an offensive attack that was tough to contain. The Huskies scored 30-plus points nine times, including three games of 50-plus points. All-purpose star Amarii Ward was also named to the WFCA’s all-state team for the Huskies.
Robb Widuch, Whitnall
In terms of high-flying offenses across the state, Whitnall was among one of the best under coach Robb Widuch. The Falcons possessed the state’s seventh-leading passer in Tanner Effertz, a WFCA all-state selection, while wideout Cooper Markee was tied for fifth in touchdown catches with 16. Whitnall scored 40-plus points on seven different occasions in 2025, including in six of its final seven games.
Jake Wolter, Whitefish Bay
Wolter and the Blue Dukes were one of the cooler stories of the 2025 postseason on the gridiron. After entering the Division 3 bracket as one of the last teams seeded, the Blue Dukes became the third team in the current playoff format to reach the state semifinals in any division as a No. 8 seed. Whitefish Bay entered the postseason on a four-game losing streak and then reeled off wins over No. 1 New Berlin West, No. 5 Port Washington and No. 3 Martin Luther.
Bill Young, Catholic Memorial
The longtime Crusaders coach added another Parkland Conference title to his hall of fame resume this season as CMH advanced to the Division 3 state semifinal round as a No. 1 seed. After a Week 1 defeat to eventual D1 top seed Franklin, the Crusaders reeled off 11 straight victories, allowing just 85 total points in that 11-game win streak. Defensive star Neeko Rodgers was named the Parkland Conference’s defensive player and defensive lineman of the year, while being named to the WFCA’s all-state team.
Drake Zortman, Homestead
Zortman and the Highlanders were excellent as the outright champions of the North Shore Conference this season. Homestead went 12-1 and reached the state semifinals in Division 2. The Highlander offense was a machine, scoring 40-plus points in eight of 13 contests, including 50-plus points on three different occasions. Homestead also had three all-state selections this season in offensive lineman Luka Ivancevic, defensive end Jamir Irving and linebacker Blake Wichman.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vote for the 2025 high school football coach of the year in the Milwaukee area
Reporting by Michael Whitlow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
