Lancaster's John Hoch named Wisconsin AP prep football coach of year after D5 title season

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A high school football coach usually doesn't last 33 years on the sideline without a strong group of assistants.

When asked the secret behind his long-term success at Lancaster, John Hoch heaped credit on another ally, too.

"I've got a very supportive wife," he said from home in a phone interview.

Hoch is the Wisconsin Associated Press Coach of the Year following a season in which he tied the state record with his seventh state championship.

Lancaster ended a three-year streak of losing state championship games with a 41-21 victory over Amherst in the Division 5 final last month.

"I enjoy it. I don't know how else you could do it, the challenge of preparing our kids to get ready," Hoch said. "I enjoy the challenge."

This season certainly qualified. Hoch said there were a lot of holes to fill, and younger players had to step up. Lancaster started up to seven sophomores at times, but had a nucleus of talent around which to build, including quarterback.

"When I look back at it, a group of kids who showed great dedication to our program," Hoch said. "I've got a great coaching staff, 14 strong, (at a) small school — a lot of them volunteer."

Hoch has also won titles in 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006. He said that there were "a great group of kids who believe in football at Lancaster. Parents buy into it there."

"Hopefully we don't screw with it that much," he joked.

They finally won a seventh state title as a payoff for the hard work.