GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay middle school named for the most famous Green Bay Packers coach won’t offer football this season.
“I was really looking forward to playing for them this season,” said Alex Coniff, an 8th grade student at Lombardi. “It makes me mad that they don’t have them, but I can still play football, so that’s good.”
Coniff spoke to WLUK while picking up St. Joseph’s Wildcats equipment after learning Lombardi canceled its 7th and 8th grade football teams because it doesn’t have any coaches.
“We had like four coaches last year and we all thought they were going to come back, but I guess not.”
Coniff estimates Lombardi had about 55 students on its two football teams last season.
In a letter to parents, Lombardi principal Jim Van Abel writes the school had been advertising coaching vacancies since last April and have not had anyone apply to the positions.
He also writes with the time it takes to hire quality people, interviews, reference, and background checks, the school has simply run out of time.
“Green Bay is a football city and for Lombardi to close, I think it’s a great loss for the kids.”
Morris Strain is president of St. Joseph’s football program.
“Green Bay likes to hire within, so they like to keep their staff in their school,” said Strain. “I don’t know if it’s to write one check.”
According to the school district’s website, a middle school football coaching job pays $2,149 a season. By comparison, club teams, like St. Joe’s, don’t pay their coaches.
St. Joe’s reports its participation is down this year and would accept any Lombardi students wanting to play.
Middle school football season lasts about three months.
