The most winning active high school football coach in Wisconsin history and second most winning active coach in the United States may reach a major milestone this weekend. St. Mary’s Springs Academy Ledger’s head coach Bob Hyland is seeking his 500th win when the Ledgers play the Lomira Lions Saturday. But the wins didn’t come quick when Hyland took over a struggling football program in 1971, winning only one game in the first two years. But Hyland said he noticed a change in his team in the second year. “We were in almost every game,” Hyland said. Hyland and his coaching staff worked hard teaching his players how to learn to win and he says that starts with not making mistakes. “If you’re fumbling the ball, throwing interceptions, it’s hard to win. Once we got over that that’s when I think the kids got the confidence that they could beat anybody.” So what makes a good high school football coach? “I would say I’m smart, but I’m not,” Hyland said. “I was told a long time ago that you’re only as smart as your assistants.” Hyland says when he started coaching he was the only one with football experience. But as Hyland developed a staff over the years he says “things got done right.” When it comes to 500 wins, Hyland gets emotional and says, in typical Hyland fashion, it’s not about him it’s about the kids. “Never ever in my mind did I think this would ever happen. I really didn’t pay attention to the significance of it,” Hyland said. His voice cracking, Hyland says “It’s a milestone.” “It’s something for the school, for the thousand kids that have played for me. It’s their victory.
