Slinger's Bill Jacklin named Don Shula High School Football Coach of the Year by NFL

Slinger’s Bill Jacklin named Don Shula High School Football Coach of the Year by NFL

Posted by author January 29, 2025 Football

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Slinger head football coach Bill Jacklin was named as a Don Shula NFL High School Football Coach of the Year in a league press release Wednesday.

“I am deeply honored to accept the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award, a recognition that stands for character, leadership, and dedication to community,” said Jacklin in the NFL release. “This achievement is not mine alone — it represents the dedication, passion, and hard work of every individual within our Slinger Football Family. ‘All In as One’ has been more than a motto; it’s the foundation of our success.”

In his 14th season at the helm of the Owls this past fall, Jacklin led the program to a 14-0 season culminating in a 31-30 win over Rice Lake at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 state title.

Jacklin was one of 32 finalists, representing each of the NFL’s 32 teams, after being named by the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Football Coaches Association as the statewide coach of the year in November. Finalists were judged by a panel of distinguished individuals around the game on character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to health and safety as well as on-field success.

Jacklin was one of two winners chosen for the 2024 season, representing the National Football Conference. John Hart of Brownsburg High School (Indiana) was chosen as the winner representing the American Football Conference after being nominated by the Indianapolis Colts.

Each winner receives a $15,000 award for their high school program, as well as a $10,000 cash award both courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nike. All finalists were invited to Orlando, Florida, this week for the Pro Bowl games, and the two winners will also attend Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans as special guests of the NFL. Both winners will also walk the red carpet at the NFL Honors on Feb. 6.

“We are excited to celebrate Coach Hart and Coach Jacklin, both of whom are incredible leaders on and off the field,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation, in the release. “Coach Hart and Coach Jacklin exemplify the vital role that high school football coaches play in helping to shape the lives and character of their players.”

Jacklin is just the second Wisconsin high school coach recognized with the national award since its inaugural season in 2010, joining 2014 winner Bruce Larson of Somerset.