In his 31 years of coaching football at Lancaster High School, John Hoch has accumulated a number of awards and honors that are backed up by some seriously impressive statistics.
But on June 17, coach Hoch will receive his most impressive honor when he is inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
He was nominated for the award by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA), and after filling out the appropriate paperwork, received word of his induction this past month.
The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is dedicated to serving high school coaches and athletic directors throughout the United States through education, recognition and support.
This year, 25 other coaches from 16 different states will be inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame along with Hoch.
“It’s probably the highest honor I’ve received,” said coach Hoch. It’s great to be in the WFCA Hall of Fame, but they put in 15 or so a year, where in this here, they only put in one or two out of the state of Wisconsin per year.”
“It’s great to be recognized by your peers,” Hoch added. “I’ve been very fortunate to be in a situation where I’ve been able to accomplish some things here in Lancaster and to be recognized around the state.”
Among an extensive list of statistics and accomplishments, Hoch has amassed a 31-year career coaching record of 269-95 (74%), has led Lancaster to 16 conference titles, six state titles and four state runner-up titles.
His teams have been in the playoffs every year for the past 21 years, and has made 23 total playoff appearances.
He has a career playoff record of 60-17, has coached three undefeated teams, and seven teams with one-loss seasons.
He’s already been inducted into the UW-River Falls Athletic Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
He’s also been named Coach of the Year at one time or another by the Telegraph Herald, the Wisconsin State Journal, the SWAL, the SWC, the WFCA, the NFSHSA and the Associated Press, to name a few.
All of these awards and accolades are a result of Hoch’s tireless dedication to the program, the school and to the kids who wear the blue and gold.
And while awards and accolades of this nature are often times synonymous with retired coaches, it begs to ask the question of how long Hoch plans to keep coaching.
“As long as I’m having fun, and I’m still a positive influence on the kids that I work with,” He said.
For however long that may be, rest assured that the Flying Arrow football program will have not only one of the best prep football coaches in the state, but in the nation as well.
On Saturday, March 29, in Middleton, the WFCA will honor Hoch for his latest induction into the NHSACA Hall of Fame with a ceremony held at the Madison Marriott West Hotel.
The actual induction ceremony into the NHSACA Hall of Fame will take place at their annual Hall of Fame luncheon on Tuesday, June 17, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
John Hoch
Statistics
Years coaching at Lancaster High School: 31 (1982-Present)
Career coaching record: 269-95 (74%)
Career conference record: 148-50
Conference Titles: 16 (1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Playoff appearances: 23 (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Playoff record: 60-17
State Titles: 6 (1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006)
State Runner-up titles: 4 (1999, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Honors & Awards
* Named SWAL Coach of the Year 8 times.
* Named SWC Coach of the Year 6 times.
* Named WFCA (Wisconsin Football Coaches Association) District XIV Coach of the Year 5 times.
* Named the WFCA assistant coach for the South All-Star squad (2000)
* Named the WFCA State Coach of the Year, the Green Bay Packers Prep Coach of the Year and the Associated Press Coach of the Year (2001)
* Named the National Federation of State High School Association Section IV Coach of the Year by the National Football Coaches Association (2002)
* Named the National Coach of the Year by the National Federation State High School Association (2002)
* Named the WFCA head coach for the South All-Star squad (2002)
* Inducted into the UW-River Falls Athletic Hall of Fame (2003)
* Named the Green Bay Packers High School Intern coach (2005)
* Named the Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director “Coach of the Three Quarter Century” for the state of Wisconsin (2007)
* Inducted into the WFCA Hall of Fame (2010)
* Awarded the Positive Influence of Coaching award by the WFCA (2012)
*Inducted into the NHSACA (National High School Athletic Coaches Association) Hall of Fame (2014)
Other Notes of interest
* In his 31 years at LHS, Hoch has coached 190 all-conference players, 26 WFCA All-Star participants and 16 WFCA All-State players.
* With the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA)Hoch has served as the district representative for 8 years, as president elect/president/past president for 6 years, has been on the All-Star game committee for 5 years, on the clinic committee for 6 years, on the Hall of Fame committee for 5 years and on the board of directors for 8 years. He currently serves as the WIAA liaison for the WFCA.
* Four of Hoch’s assistant coaches have been named the WFCA Assistant Coach of the Year (Terry Noble 2005, Bill Massey 2007, Eric Rolland 2008 and Joe Schulte 2011), three of which have been inducted into the WFCA Hall of Fame (Massey 2009, Noble 2012, Rolland 2013)
