CUBA CITY — Another Cuban football coach is joining hallowed company. Current Cuba City head coach, Guy Kopp, is one of 12 inductees as the 2025 Wisconsin Football Coaches Association’s (WFCA) Hall of Fame class.

The Cuban program is rich in tradition, exemplified by its four other coaches in the Hall of Fame — Jim Meckstroth (Class of 2012; 169-117), Rex Foster (Class of 2007), O.A. “Ozzie” Barth (Class of 1985; 101-80-7), and H.L. “Jake” Jacobson (Class of 1983; 66-46-5).

Kopp’s 34-year coaching career includes 19 total seasons with Cuba City, where he’s gone 102-67 as a head coach (131-80 overall). His coaching career began as a linebacker coach at UW-Stout before being hired for the Cubans as a defensive coach at the freshman level under Meckstroth in 1992. Kopp was promoted a year later to defensive coordinator for the varsity program for the outgoing Craig Weber, who left to open a meat processing plant with his brother in Geneseo, Ill. 

Kopp remained in the position until 1998, where a move to Prairie du Chien was in order. He remained a defensive coordinator for the Blackhawks under Duane Bark, and took over for his first head coaching position for Prairie du Chien in 2002 until 2005. Over the Kopp’s first stint as a head coach, he compiled a 29-13 record.

Then came the 2006 season, and with it, a move back to the familiar. The Cubans welcomed back Kopp to the team and community as a defensive coach under coordinator, Gary Meyer, and Meckstroth.

“He was a big reason why I came back to Cuba City, beside it being a great place to raise your kids and being a great school with great teachers,” Kopp said. “Meckstroth taught me so much. Not only the X’s and O’s, but how to make football fun and how to treat your players — firm but fair.”

Kopp didn’t have to wait long for his next, and current, head coaching gig. 

“In 2008, I was hired as head coach by superintendent Sam McGrew and principal Tim Hazen to replace Meckstroth after his 30-year career with the Cubans,” Kopp said.

He earned his first SWAL conference co-championship with Darlington and Iowa–Grant in his second season with Cuba City at 6-1 (6-4 overall). Kopp’s first outright title came three seasons later in 2012, with undefeated conference and regular season records for his Cuban squad. The only mar on their record was a Division 5 Level 1 home loss to Aquinas, 32-20.

Under Kopp’s tutelage, Cuba City has seen significant success, including winning records in 11-of-17 years with one .500 season as well, and four SWAL titles over the span.

A team isn’t made up of one person — a fact that Kopp is well aware of.

“Your assistant coaches make the head coach who he is,” he said. “They are the reason I received this honor. In my career, I have had the best assistants ever, and they get better every year. I have had four former assistant coaches that became head coaches, and ” 

Kopp specifically listed assistant coaches Steve Graber, Eric Rojemann, Aaron Kaiser, Andy Pualsen, Austin Young, Troy Updike, Brian Coulthard, Ross Griffin, Brad Collins, and John Sturtz by name as.

“I have four former assistant coaches that became head coaches, and one player who is a head coach,” Kopp said. “Having the support from administration is also key. I have been blessed to have athletic directors Andy Banasik, Joe Zydowsky, Jeff Pustina, Jason Holzemer, and Keri Lawson.”

Through it all, Kopp also recognizes that those with a family in his position often rely on those individuals more than anyone else. 

“The most important person for this award is my wife, Tanya,” he said. “The sacrifices she made over the years so I can do my job that I love is unbelievable. Every successful head coach has an understanding wife. My four children, Preston, Payton, Parker, and Beau, are also very supportive.”

Kopp’s coaching ability is respected among his peers as well. 

“I understand [the Cubans] graduated 20-plus seniors, but Kopp does such a great job of getting kids out for football each year that the dropp off is not going to be nearly as high as people think,” Darlington head coach Travis Winkers said. “This current group of juniors and seniors dominated the conference when they were on junior varsity. Combine that with coming off a conference title season, where many people in our area thought they could get to state, that ended abruptly when quarterback Tyson Richard SWAL All-Conference Player of the Year got hurt in a Level 1 playoff game.”

Also part of the 2026 Hall of Fame Class are Bob Hyland (St. Mary’s Springs), Dan Miller (Racine St. Catherine’s, Racine Park), Toby Golembiewski (Monroe, UW-Platteville), Scott Cramer (Verona, Whitefish Bay, Grafton), Cal Mathew (Milwaukee King, Milwaukee Washington), Pat Miles (Citation — Official), Frank Tierney (UW-La Crosse), Robin Rosemeyer (Gilman, Cornell, Chippewa Falls), Jim Hagen (Colby), and Lee Purdy (Ashwaubenon, Mukwonago, UW-Superior, UW-River Falls, UW-Whitewater).