Area football coach of the year: Matt Kern led Eisenhower to Division 3 state final

This is what you call going from good to great.

During Matt Kern’s previous three seasons as New Berlin Eisenhower’s football coach, the Lions went from a the middle of the pack – the 2014 team went 4-5 – to winning eight games in 2015 and seven in 2016. This year the team produced one of the best seasons in school history. In fact, when it comes to points scored and points allowed, it is the best, Kern said.

The Lions won their first 13 games and finished as the state runner-up in Division 3. It was the first state finals appearance since a two-year run that ended in 1996, just two years after Kern graduated from Eisenhower.

State finalists are well represented on all-area football team

All-area football second team and honorable mention

For their work, Kern and his staff are the Journal Sentinel’s football coach/staff of the year.

It has been quite a ride for the Eisenhower alumnus. Kern was a solid player — he was second-team all-conference — after an injury-marred junior year.

“We have a lot of guys in our program like that now,” Kern said. “Kids who aren’t labeled superstars in their class but keep working. I can really identify with those kids. I enjoy watching those kids really achieve, especially by the time they get to be seniors.”

Eisenhower had a successful season despite not having any first-team all-state players or first-team all-area picks. It also achieved that success without any previous playoff success. This year marked the first time Eisenhower won a postseason game since 2011

What made this year special?  It's hard for Kern to pinpoint.

"I think the teams the last two years were every bit as capable of doing what we did this year," he said, "Whether it's a scheduling thing or a health thing, we just had a couple of small things that didn't go our way (in previous years)."

Not this year. Anchored by an offensive line in which every starter received all-conference recognition, the team produced a 1,700-yard passer (senior Bryce Miller) two 900-yard rushers (senior Jake Belongia and junior Jack Himmelspach) and an 800-yard receiver (senior Stephen Halusan).

The defense, meanwhile, led by junior linebacker Mike White, shut out four teams.

"There is satisfaction that when we had a really good opportunity to do something like this that we were able to do it," Kern said.

COACHING STAFF

Head coach: Matt Kern. Assistants: Sean Crowley, defensive coordinator; Jim Crowley, offensive coordinator; Chris Lidwin, defensive backs; Jeff Kaszubowski, linebackers; Jon Kaszubowski, defensive line Eric Mack, offensive line; Steve Radomski, quarterbacks; Mike Richards, running backs; Jason Scaffidi, receivers; Donnie Jackson, quality control.